3 Simple DIY Tricks to Getting Your Home For-Sale Ready this Fall
Say goodbye to the summer heat, sun-kissed skin, beach vacations, and BBQs galore because August is wrapping up which means these last 3 months of care-free bliss are quickly transforming into the fall season. Of course summer has its perks, but in the real estate market, fall is where it’s at.
Fall is the best time of year to sell
The summer chaos and back-to-school hustle finally starts to slow down. No more family vacations, soccer camps, swim team practice, 4th of July BBQs or last minute pool parties. Families are back in their homes ready to take on another school year and get back into a familiar routine. Because of this people actually have the time to sit down and think about buying and/or selling their home – especially before the holiday season creeps up.
Once the summer heat starts to cool off, fall weather is the perfect setting for homebuyers and sellers. Think about it for a second, if you’re running around looking to buy a home, would you be in a better mood when you’re extremely hot and sweaty, freezing cold with infinite layers, or perfectly poised in crisp sweater-weather? Fall brings about the cool air, autumn leaves, and easy-going attitude that paint’s a perfect picture for real estate season. Mother Nature is setting up the scene, all you have to do perk up your place with these three simple steps.
1. Curb appeal is king
Swap the daisies for mums and marigolds, because playing up your yard is one of the best things you can do when selling a home. People innately are quick to judge based on appearance – it instantly sparks a certain emotion. If someone were to pull up to your home and see a completely disheveled lawn, regardless of how gorgeous the interior is, your potential buyer will either walk away or immediately have a poor feeling about the house before they even step foot inside.
Simple things you can do to liven up the outside:
- Plant pots using autumn floral selections with warm colors like yellow and orange
- Mow and water your lawn regularly so that it is green and lush
- Spruce up the exterior paint if needed – even just a trim touch-up will make it “pop”
- Clean and dress the windows so they sparkle from the street
2. Cozy isn’t just found in a good sweater
When people think of fall they think of the crisp breeze, autumn colors and layered wardrobe. As a seller, your goal is to evoke these emotions in your buyer simply by the “feel” of your home.
- Utilize the fireplace: make sure it’s been cleaned and well-kept, align the mantel with touches of autumn décor, and always keep the fire going
- Accents are key: emphasize fall colors throughout the home, but don’t overdo it. A little orange pillow here, small vase with yellow flowers there. Pops of color stick out instantly.
- Perfect pillows: pillows and blankets are the perfect way to not only add color and personality to a house, but they also represent a sense of coziness. Set up a warm blanket over the couch by the fire with some small accent pillows and you’ll have the buyers picturing themselves in your house instantly
- Keep the lights on: along with the warmth of the fire, keep all of the lights on when showing your house. It makes the rooms seem warmer, more inviting and more open.
The last tip can be as simple or difficult as you’d like. We all can’t be 4-star chefs; however, a little baking can go along way when it comes to selling a home.
3. Take advantage of our sense of smell
- Light fall scented candles throughout the home, but make sure the smells are not over powering, and mesh well together. Too much can really cause a headache.
- Warm up cinnamon sticks on the stove top. Simmer 1 stick per 1 cup of water – smells like you’ve been baking all day, but you haven’t even touched your oven.
- Now for the hard part – get baking! Whether it’s from a package or from scratch, bake an apple pie, some pumpkin muffins or even snicker doodle cookies to remind people of their childhood, being with family, and celebrating the holidays. You can even have a tray out at the showing to offer potential buyers. Plus, you get all the leftovers. it’s a win-win!
Getting your house ready to sell is a lot of work, but presenting it in a way that really shows it’s a home is what’s going to close the deal this fall.
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