People are ready to buy homes any time of year – especially if you know how to prepare the property to sell. There will likely be fewer homes on the market during this time of year, meaning a well-positioned house can sell fast if you draw in the right buyer. You can do a lot to help your home feel welcoming and bright to a potential buyer. Here are some great tips for attracting the autumn home buyer that can help you get an offer on your house before the new year!
Curb Appeal
When autumn rolls around and the trees start to lose their leaves, maintaining the exterior of your home becomes even more important. Bare trees mean a more exposed home, so touch up the paint, clean the gutters and windows, spruce up the yard and rinse loose dirt from your home’s siding one last time before the temperature drops.
One of the challenges faced during the fall is the die-off of seasonal plants around the house. With fall comes the inevitable shedding and dying of many things green. As a result, the landscaping during a fall home sale requires more frequent attention than at other times of year. As plants die out due to the cold it is best to remove them or cut them back so as not to detract from other aspects of the home. The lawn should be properly mowed and fertilized to keep it looking green and lush for as long as possible. Small evergreen bushes can be strategically located to add some color to the landscape if all the other green plants and shrubs have shed their leaves. It is also important to sweep or blow walkways before every tour.
As the season changes so to should your exterior decor. Create a welcoming entry for potential buyers. If needed, paint your front door, add a new welcome mat and a few seasonal plants and pumpkins. Try adding a seating area if you have the space, put out colourful fall-inspired pillows and throw blankets when showing. In the backyard, store away any summer items like pool floats, and tiki torches. Add fall-related decor like a self-contained fire pit and warm-colored cushions on your patio furniture to create an outdoor space perfect for chilly evenings.
Make Your Windows Sparkle
Rain and wind from over the summer months can make your windows dusty and streaked by autumn. You might not notice dirty windows, but buyers will. Your windows need to sparkle to sell a home. Wash windows inside and out and remove screens and spray them down.
Bring in the Light
Bring in the light! Fall means the days get shorter, the sun sets lower in the horizon with evening light disappearing more and more each night. Pull up the blinds, open the shutters, push back the drapes on every window. Turn on every light in the house. Brighten darker rooms, bringing in extra floor or table lamps is an easy (and temporary) way to add light. You might also consider simply swapping bulbs for higher wattage to each fixture’s recommended maximum.
Refresh interior paint. It’s well known that light, neutral paint colors appeal to the broadest group of buyers, but during the darkening fall days, they also reflect more light.
Time to get Cozy
The leaves are changing, the temperature is dropping, and people start spending more time snuggled up inside. Give your home that warm, inviting fall feel buyers are sure to love. Autumn’s natural color scheme is warm and earthy, reminiscent of cozy, fireside nights. A well-staged home interior in the fall season using fall themed colours and accessories will give your home an inviting ambiance. Add earth tone coloured pillows, throws or other inviting textiles and fabrics (knits and faux fur) in the living room and the master bedroom to create a warm and comfortable atmosphere.
Accent your kitchen by adding a bowl of seasonal vegetables, squash and pumpkins, and fall foliage. If you have a fireplace, stack some wood beside it to help buyers imagine using it during the fall and winter seasons. If you have a gas or electric fireplace, turn it on for showings and open houses.
Offer festive treats. The cherry on top, seasonal goodies like hot cider on the stove or pumpkin cookies can make your home stand out during a fall open house. These touches are all subtle but can have a big impact on where imaginations will go while touring your home.
Complete Indoor Maintenance
Savvy home buyers notice the small details, and certain flaws show up more in the colder fall months. Consider tackling the following to-do list before your first showing:
• Drafts are more noticeable this time of year, therefore make sure you properly seal gaps and cracks around your windows and doors.
• Address any eyesores. Potential buyers are going to spend more time indoors during a showing in the fall, so things like touched-up paint and fresh caulking in the bathrooms and kitchen, and clean grout can make a big difference.
• Replace air filters. As you start turning up the heat, new furnace filters will ensure you don’t push stale smells or dust throughout the house.
Don’t Overwhelm
Fall season is a time of Thanksgiving and Halloween. No one expects a home to completely lack holiday decorations during these months, but simplicity is key. If you wish to decorate your home with neutral décor appropriate for the season, then do so without overdoing it. A pumpkin patch yard full of hay and scarecrows or a plethora of Halloween tchotchkes are bound to turn off buyers and are best left for when a home is not on sale. Make sure the decorations are put up after pictures of the home have been taken so that the pictures do not look dated. As soon as a particular season is considered over, the decorations should be removed.
Need a hand staging your home for fall, give us a call at 905-320-7818!
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