While the Summer months have proven to be the best time to list and sell your home, Fall is not necessarily the worst time either. There are things to keep in mind though so I have compiled a list of 8 things you can do if you decide the time to sell is NOW.
Embrace the Fall Season
Fall is such a beautiful and fun time of year. The leaves are changing colors, there are pumpkin patches everywhere and Starbucks carries those famous pumpkin spice lattes. This is also a great time to redecorate with Fall scented candles and warmth colored throw blankets to add a cozy, welcoming environment.
Price It Right
While Fall is generally a busy season for real estate, the upcoming Winter months are not. People generally focus more on the holidays and less on wanting to pack and move. Pricing your house right in the beginning stages vs asking for a larger purchase price will help your property to sell faster. The longer the property sits on the market, the more likely it will become harder to sell and potential buyers may begin to question why the property has been listed for so long.
Making Sure Your House Is Ready To Sell
Minor improvements can make all the difference and go a long way when you decide to list your house on the market. Potential buyers will be more inclined to choose a new home that doesn’t require any repairs or at least any that are urgent. More than likely, they will want to move right into someplace where they can unpack, redecorate and begin inviting family over for the holidays.
Clean and de-clutter
As with selling your house any time of year, it is crucial to keep everything organized and clean. It is also the perfect time to throw things out that you don’t use or need and put things away that are just causing clutter and collecting dust. Fall also brings a much bigger task with leaves and yard work and the last thing you want to have to do is rake leaves for an hour on a Wednesday at 5 pm just so you can show your house to a last-minute showing. Keeping things dusted and put away, cleaning windows, counters, fixtures, and floors and making the beds are just a few ways you can keep things show-ready.
Check The HVAC
Fall is the perfect time of year to change your air filters, clean the vents and test out the heater after months of using the air conditioner. This way if you need to have it serviced, you can repair any issues so that nothing comes up during the home inspection or after the new buyers move in.
Brighten Things Up
With shorter daylight hours and longer, darker evenings, brightening up your house is a must. Not only will it enable potential buyers to see all of your home’s wonderful features, but it will also add to the curb appeal. Things like cleaning windows & screens to allow more light to come in, adding extra lamps and switching out lightbulbs, keeping blinds, shutters, and curtains clean and open. The more warm light you can add, the better!
Keep It Cozy
Potential buyers need to be able to picture themselves living in your house. The Fall season provides many advantages that can add that special warmness to your home other seasons can’t. Adding Fall colored throw pillows and blankets, lighting Fall scented candles and having the thermostat at a comfortable temperature can create a vision that is welcoming and will give buyers a more homey feeling. Limit Halloween decorations but add seasonal accents without going overboard. Modest and tasteful is key to appealing to the different personalities of potential buyers. Offering or providing treats like warm apple cider or pumpkin cookies can also help to cozy things up and add the ambiance.
Be Flexible
Flexibility helps when selling your property during any season. Being accommodating to potential buyers this time of year when we have daylight savings, upcoming holidays and busier schedules (kids in school, work, activities) is important. Showings may not always be on a designated day and potential buyers may want to stop by during a weekday evening. It is important to always keep your house “show ready” just in case. If your house sells, you must also be flexible on closing and moving dates and make things convenient as possible for your buyers.
I am here to help you with pricing, staging and any of your questions or concerns along the way, If you are considering listing your home, please e-mail me at emilie@emiliebroughton.com or simply visit my Contact page here on my website.
