Cooler weather doesn’t mean a cooler real estate market… Make sure your home is looking its best for those fall homebuyers!
Missed the summer real estate market spike and worried your home won’t sell? Don’t fear, selling your home in the fall can be a smart move! The cooler weather and beautiful autumn scenery can help make your property look its best, plus serious buyers are more eager to close before the holiday season which can make for a speedy process.
However, to make the most of the fall real estate market, it's essential to prep your home properly. Here are 10 ways to help your home stand out and sell fast in the fall.
1. Add Seasonal Landscaping & Outdoor Home Decor
To enhance the curb appeal of your home during the fall, start with tidying up your yard by raking leaves, trimming bushes, and replacing any summer plants that are past their prime with more seasonal ones. Also, add seasonal touches like decorative pumpkins or a welcoming autumn wreath to the front door. A well-maintained and seasonally decorated yard can help create a warm and inviting first impression on potential buyers, helping sell your home faster in the fall.
2. Clean the Exterior & Enhance Lighting
Fall days are much shorter, so having good exterior lighting is super important for safety and curb appeal. Make sure all exterior lights are working properly, even adding extra lighting along walkways or near the entrance to your home, if needed. You should also power wash your home’s exterior brick or siding, clean the gutters, and wipe down the windows. A clean, well-lit exterior will help make your home look so much more attractive to homebuyers, especially in the fall.
3. Use Cozy Home Staging
Fall is all about feeling warm and cozy, so playing those up can really help sell your home quickly during that time. Try staging your house with soft throws, plush pillows, and warm, rich colors to create a comfortable and cozy atmosphere. You can even light candles (electric ones for efficiency and safety!) or use air fresheners with fall scents to appeal to the senses of potential buyers. A warm home is especially appealing during cooler months and will help homebuyers envision themselves living there during the holidays!
4. Maximize Natural Light
With fewer daylight hours, maximizing natural light in your home is essential during the fall. Keep curtains and blinds fully open to let in as much light as possible, especially during open houses or showings. Be sure to clean all the windows (inside and out) to ensure they’re letting in the maximum amount of sunlight possible. If certain rooms are naturally dark or your home doesn’t have as many windows, consider adding accent mirrors to reflect light or strategically placing lamps to brighten up the home. This pro tip will make your home look larger and airy to homebuyers, helping it sell faster!
5. Set a Comfortable Temperature Inside
Make sure your house is comfortable during showings. A chilly house can be off-putting to potential buyers, so set your thermostat to a cozy temperature. A well-heated home feels much more welcoming and will reassure homebuyers that the heating system is in good working order. If you’re selling a home in the Houston area during the fall, you may still need to keep a cooler temperature, but regardless, make sure your home is always comfortable and it will sell faster!
6. Highlight Energy-Efficient Features
Fall homebuyers are likely thinking ahead to winter and the holidays, so pointing out and highlighting any energy-efficient appliances or technology in your home will really make it stand out. If you’ve recently upgraded insulation, added new E-star windows, or installed a smart thermostat, make sure to mention these upgrades to potential buyers! Providing a cozy environment without high energy costs is a super appealing selling point and can help sell your home fast in the fall.
If you're looking to upgrade any home features before you list your house for sale, consider any of these energy-efficient home improvements to help sell your home!
7. Tackle Minor Repairs & Maintenance
Before even listing your home, consider making any minor repairs that could possibly turn off buyers—for example, leaky faucets, squeaky doors, or loose tiles. Also, make sure all major systems like HVAC, plumbing, and electrical are in good working order and recently maintained. Remember, fall homebuyers are looking to be in a new house before the holidays, so ensuring your home is well-maintained will entice them to buy faster.
Check out these 7 budget-friendly home-renovation ideas that can easily enhance the appeal of your home to buyers!
8. Price Competitively & Fairly
The fall real estate market can be pretty competitive since buyers want to move in quickly, so it’s important to sell your home for a reasonable price. Work with your real estate agent to assess the current real estate market in your area and set a price that reflects your home’s true value while still being attractive to buyers. Pricing your home competitively from the start can help generate interest fast and lead to a quicker sale!
9. Be Flexible with Showings
Now that school is back in session, team sports are in season, and the busy holiday season is approaching, homebuyers are eager to close on a new home quickly and probably with less free time to do so. So, being as flexible and considerate as possible when it comes to home showings, open houses, etc. to accommodate schedules will help your home get seen by as many serious homebuyers as possible.
10. Prepare for Fall & Winter Weather
You should always be prepared for the unpredictable fall weather! Have an umbrella stand and doormat ready for rainy days to keep the entryway of your home clean. Windy days are also common in the fall—be sure to keep your property clear of blown debris. If you live in an area where snow is a possibility, make sure all the walkways on your property are clear and safe. A well-prepared home—no matter the weather—shows potential buyers that you’re attentive and ready for anything. Plus, if you’ve already prepped for the upcoming season, your home is likely to sell faster!
Prepping your home to sell in the fall requires attention to detail and an understanding of what fall homebuyers are looking for during this time of year. By enhancing curb appeal, creating a cozy interior, and being flexible, you can make your home stand out from the rest in the fall market and sell much more quickly!
If you're looking for someone to help you quickly sell your home in the fall, contact us today! We have a team of expert real estate agents who will help make the process smooth, quick, and easy!
Alexis Feezel is a results-oriented Marketing Coordinator responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing all promotional strategies and activities to effectively market clients & listings and maximize sales.