Selling Strategies for Fall

Because there’s still a lot of buyer activity in the Fall, smart sellers do additional maintenance chores to keep the house in top selling condition, and use simple decorations inside and outside.

Fall often brings an increase in buyer activity, so it’s important to keep the inside and outside of your house looking their best. Buyers form opinions about a house within seconds, based on how it looks from the street. Fall is no time to relax your efforts.

Cooler weather marks the end of the active gardening season, when many plants complete their growing cycle. Maintain curb appeal by removing dead annual flowers, grooming spent perennials, raking leaves, keeping pathways clear and continuing to care for your lawn. Analyze the condition of foundation plantings. If they’re tired or overgrown, this is the perfect time to plant replacements. Although seasonal accessories are attractive touches, don’t use too many, and avoid cute ones, such as witches, ghosts and spider webs. Remember that your goal is to focus attention on the attractive features of the house. As the weather gets colder, consider removing window screens to let in additional light. Buyers love clean windows, so keep them sparkling. Put away all but essential, weather-resistant outdoor furniture, toys and accessories.
 
Because of the heavy rainfall this year and the rampant growth of mold on many houses and decks, fall cleanup should include pressure-washing. Be sure that the roof remains free of debris and that gutters and downspouts are clear and water flows freely. Water should drain away from the house, so add a diverter, if needed.

Make the inside of the house feel bright, cheerful, warm and inviting. Add touches of Fall color with simple cushions, throws or towels, and arrangements of natural materials such as flowers, pumpkins and gourds. To avoid a busy look, decorations should be simple and medium scale or larger.

Fall presents special challenges for sellers of vacant houses which can easily look neglected at any time of year. In the Fall, a vacant house requires more frequent attention to attract buyers and reassure them that it’s being well maintained. Arrange to have the property checked inside and outside at least once a week, more often if there has been bad weather. Be alert to the presence of odors as a sign of mold or other problems and open windows periodically to combat stale air.

Smart Selling Tip:
Smart sellers do additional maintenance chores in the Fall to keep the house in top selling condition, and use simple decorations inside and outside.