Tips for Selling Your Home This Fall

September is the unofficial start to Fall here in the Twin Cities! With the dog days of August behind us, sweaters, scarfs, and pumpkin themes start appearing everywhere from stores to your latte.

Regular routines come back into play with kids back in school and vacations slowing down until the holidays. This normalcy sets a perfect stage for sellers to start preparing to get their home ready to sell. The Fall is a fantastic time to get your home on the market and sold. Here are some tips to help you prepare for a Fall market.

Focus on Hearth and Home

Fall brings cooler weather, with that, home buyers will likely want to find a new home that feels cozy and welcoming. Bringing in some fall colors and decor into the home can really enhance how comforting the home can be to buyers. Think cozy blankets on the sofa, fireplaces cleaned and ready to show for buyers, and seasonal dinnerware that makes the dining room look Thanksgiving ready.

Keeping the home warm is also an important factor. If it's been a while since the furnace has been serviced this would be a fantastic time to do so. This is often an item that buyers are concerned of at anytime of the year, so whether you decide to sell your home in the Fall or not, it should be an item that you plan for when you are ready to sell.

Keep Up Your Curb Appeal

While the fall colors outdoors and falling leaves are beautiful, it is important to still keep the exterior of the home looking kept and organized. Cleaning up leaves from any trees in the yard, mowing the lawn, and maintaining any floral beds are important. If you have areas with plants that die out during the fall months, try to add some color by putting potted seasonal plants in. Mums are always a great tool to add some color and keeping the curb appeal up!

You may also want to make sure that areas of the home that are covered by summer vegetation are still looking fresh. Check for any chipping paint, clogged gutters, etc. It may be a good idea to repair or clean any of these areas, not only will it look more presentable, but adding a highlight that the home has a fresh coat of paint can be a big plus to a buyer!

Let There be Light!

Fall months bring less daylight, meaning there will be less natural lighting throughout the day into the afternoon and evening. It is very likely that your home may have showings in the evenings when it is already dark out and potential buyers will want to see if the home is still bright and cheery in the dark.

Make sure that all outdoor lights are updated, clean, and working. Driving up to a brightly lit exterior will allow the buyers to see the home more clearly and will make it appear welcoming.

Indoor lighting is just as important, update any bulbs in the home and have as many as possible lights on when buyers come by. Walking into an already lighted home will be more pleasing and will ensure that homebuyers don't miss any tricky light switches trying to view it themselves.

Prepare for a Different Market

Because the Spring and the Summer markets are generally so busy, sellers should prepare for a more low-key pace in the fall market. While the home may not be flooded with showings, buyers in the Fall are often extremely motivated and may be more particular about the homes they choose to see, therefore they may have an initial higher interest when they choose to see your home.

There may also be less inventory for homes on the market, providing a little less competition with other sellers. This can vary depending on the area you are in, however, it will be important to ensure that you ask your realtor what the current market conditions are for your area to know what other homes in your area are doing. This will help you stay competitive with the homes that are on the market and help you sell your home!

P.S. Follow the link below for the source of the featured image as well as some great tips to make your guests feel at home!
http://www.worthingcourtblog.com/10-tips-to-make-your-guests-feel-welcome/