While many people believe fall is not the best time of year to sell a home, you may be surprised to know that by being proactive in your preparation, selling in the fall may be your best bet! Here are a few quick thoughts to consider…
Know the Market
When you are preparing to list your home, no matter what time of year, you need to know what the market is doing so that you can properly price your home. Sit down with your agent and ask them to show what the current inventory is, what the competition for your home is, how prices are trending, whether it’s a sellers market or buyers market, and what the market absorption is. These are all critical factors that you’ll need to be aware of when you are selling your home in the fall.
Interior Staging
When it comes to the interior of your home when you’re selling in the fall there are several things you want to do. First and most important, give your home a deep cleaning. Everything from kitchen, to baseboards, to getting those cobwebs, bathrooms, and even tidy up your storage space. Having a home that is clean will make a big impression on buyers. When you sell in the fall, don’t be afraid to decorate for Halloween and Thanksgiving. Make buyers feel at home and they will form an attachment. There is, however a fine line and you don’t want to overdo it. No spooky monsters that scare the buyers or gory scenes all over the house. Last, you can really bring it all together with the scents in the home. Burning fall scented candles (not too many), baking a pumpkin pie, or putting 3-4 teaspoons of vanilla extract in the oven at 350 degrees for 10 minutes can make the home smell very pleasant.
Exterior Curb Appeal
While it may seem like the interior of the home is most important when you sell in the fall, you don’t want to neglect the exterior. As we get closer to fall and winter many homeowners start to neglect the exterior since the weather can make maintenance more of a chore. Selling in the fall can provide your home with a visually appealing setting with the leaves changing color. Don’t ruin your chance at a good first impression by neglecting the exterior. Make sure leaves are raked, sticks aren’t littering the yard, trim shrubs, remove weeds from flower beds, remove dead plants, and clean leaves out of the gutters.
Home Maintenance
Fall is a great time to conduct routine maintenance on your home before getting into winter. When you are selling in the fall, you may want to be proactive ad take care of any issues that may come up during an inspection. Many homeowners have their furnace cleaned or serviced as the buyers will want to know the condition of the furnace before a frigid winter hits. It may be worth it to conduct a pre-listing inspection. You can have a home inspector out to go over your home and shed light on items that may come up when the buyer does their inspection. This way you can correct any deficiencies in advance and avoid any tense negotiations.
