Summer isn’t always the easiest time to sell a home. With school breaks and vacations in full swing, many buyers are distracted, and the influx of listings means more competition for attention. On top of that, sweltering temperatures can make weekend house-hunting feel like a chore. But what if you don’t have the luxury of choosing which season to sell a home? You’re probably wondering how to sell your house fast in summer. With just a few strategic upgrades, you can enhance your home’s appeal and stand out in a crowded summer market without breaking the bank. Here are practical tips to help you sell your house fast this summer. The last thing you want potential buyers to see when they pull up to a home is a dead lawn or yard waste. These are glaringly obvious during the hottest months of the year, which means your outdoor space needs to be a top priority. Don’t make people imagine living in a home in cooler months. Help them visualize living in it now. When someone tours your yard, they’re likely assessing projects they’ll need to tackle once they buy the home, and if there are too many projects, they may decide to pass. While some of these projects will be hidden in other seasons, they’re on full display during the summer months. So, if you’re selling this season, check off as many projects as you can, from clearing deadfall to patching the lawn. Invest in professional landscaping. On average, this can raise your home’s value by approximately 7%, doing wonders for your curb appeal. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to clean out the toolshed! Nothing is worse than needing to sweep out and remove cobwebs from a toolshed before you can move in any of your tools and appliances. Fresh produce is great, and it’s even better for you when it’s from your own garden. Nothing says summer like harvesting your veggies (and trying to offload your excess zucchini on the neighbors), so a pre-planted vegetable garden can help buyers picture themselves in your home this summer. Instead of making them do the legwork to set up a garden, take an afternoon to plant one in advance. If you time it right, they could be moving in as everything starts to ripen. Raised beds are probably the easiest option for putting in a simple good-looking garden. Here’s an excellent guide to establishing a garden using raised beds. Backyard barbecues are classic summer fare, so it’s always good to help people picture their own. According to a HomeLight survey, 51% of real estate agents identify outdoor enhancements, such as upgraded patios, as some of the most impactful improvements for increasing a home’s market appeal. Consider adding shade to a patio with a pergola or stringing lights across the yard. Buy prefabricated pergolas, or you can always build your own. Add seating and a fire pit, which will help buyers picture themselves enjoying a cool summer night with friends. Most fire pits are relatively inexpensive, but building your own and carving out a seating area is sure to impress. It’s easy enough to keep a house cool during a showing – just crank up the AC. But what about the backyard? A misting system is a simple and cheap way to turn down the temperature in a yard. You can even hook it up to a connected device so you can turn it on remotely and impress buyers. Misting kits can simply screw into a hose bib and a smart irrigation valve makes it easy to turn on with your smartphone. With kids out of school for the summer, some buyers will likely have their kids in tow when viewing homes. This can be a boon for clever sellers who add kid-friendly summer features to their yards. When considering homes, a parent might just lean toward the home with a rope swing or a zip line that brought their kid so much joy on a hot day, seeing houses. Naturally, helping buyers stay cool while they look around is vital. A sweltering house is never going to feel like home, so you should do everything you can to focus on keeping the home comfortable during the entire buying process. One of the best ways to accomplish this is with home automation technology. Homeowners can’t always be home to turn up the AC for a showing, and turning it on right before might not cool the home off in time. The other conventional solution is to simply keep the AC blasting throughout the day, which can add to your utility costs quickly. A smart thermostat solves both of these problems, allowing you to turn on the AC at any time without needing to be at home. What’s more, adding smart features to a home can save money, another excellent selling point. Anyone with a lawn or a garden dreads the water bill spike at the beginning of every summer. You can help mitigate this by installing a smart sprinkling system in advance of your sale. Smart sprinklers with Wi-Fi connectivity can reduce water usage by as much as 30%, making them an appealing feature for potential buyers. Fewer things feel more futuristic than seeing your shades open and close on their own. While they may be one of the stranger improvements on this list, they’re excellent for showing a home. Especially on bright summer days, you can keep the sun out and the home cool until a showing, when you can show off your shades that would look right at home in Tony Stark’s penthouse. And the best part is that you don’t even need to buy new shades. Many smart shade devices simply replace the drawstring. When it comes to selling your home fast in summer, timing can make all the difference. Avoid listing right before major holiday weekends, when potential buyers are more likely to be traveling or distracted. In family-friendly neighborhoods, aim to close before the school year starts, as many buyers want to settle in before classes begin. Avoid the weekend-heavy competition by listing mid-week. This small shift can help your home get more attention. You can also use tools like HomeLight’s Best Time to Sell calculator to pinpoint the most favorable time to list based on market trends in your area. With the right timing, your home will attract more motivated and serious buyers. In a competitive summer market, providing smart buyer incentives can help your home stand out. Covering closing costs or prepaying HOA fees are appealing ways to reduce a buyer’s upfront expenses. You might also include outdoor furniture or lawn care equipment as part of the deal, which adds both value and convenience. Another effective strategy is to create a “move-in ready” package, such as offering freshly landscaped yards or pre-paid cleaning services. These thoughtful touches can make a big difference for buyers looking for a hassle-free transition. Incentives don’t have to be expensive. You only need practical and well-timed buyer perks to tip the scales in your favor. In most parts of the continental United States, summer has two temperatures — hot and hotter. You should be keenly aware of this when listing or selling a home. You can always have cold water bottles available for open houses or keep the AC cranked for showings, but taking it a step further can really close a deal. Focus on yard projects that will shine during the summer and add home automation elements to make your listing stand up to the summer heat. For the best results, partner with a top real estate agent who understands how to market your home effectively during the busy summer season. Their expertise can help you price competitively, stage strategically, and sell quickly, even in the heat of peak competition. Use HomeLight’s Agent Match tool to connect with a proven real estate agent today.Make your yard summer-ready
1. Deep clean the yard – complete the big projects
2. Plant a vegetable garden
3. Punch up your porch and patio game
4. Add misters to keep the yard cool
5. Install features to get kids on your side
Impress buyers with smart features
1. Use a smart thermostat to keep your cool
2. Upgrade your sprinklers
3. Add in some automated window shades
Time your sale right
Offer buyer incentives
Sell your house fast this summer
