6 ways you can prep your home for fall selling
The house-buying market continues tomove rapidly. It’s a great time to sell your home, but for the best results, take a few steps to make sure your home is attractive and will fetch the best price.
Here are sixways to prep your house for a sale in the fall.
1. Keep up with your yard.
Leaves are starting to fall quickly now. Rake and bag them on a daily basis; you never knowwhen a potential buyer will show. Clean your gutters; potential buyers will take note of leaking gutters or clogged downspouts.
Make buyers feel your house offers everything theywant in a home.
2. Check your furnace.
Hire anHVAC pro to check your heating unit or furnace. Would-be buyers will be taking a close look at this, and youwant it to be in the best shape. A furnace making strange noises or notworking perfectly is a big turnoff. A professional inspection will address all parts of the system and head off potential problems. Make sure you stay on top of filter changes, too.
3. Focus on the fireplace.
Hire a certified chimney sweep who can inspect and clean your fireplace. Toomuch creosote can cause blockage, reduce airflowand potentially lead to chimney fires. A crisp, clear fireplace makes a great impression. You never knowif there’s debris up above or bird’s nests on the exterior that will create blockage or back up smoke.
Accessorize a clean fireplace with candles and garnishes.
4. Create a fall first impression.
Youwant the first impression of your house to convey a look of fall. Place a fall wreath, but take care not to overdo Halloween decorations. Use lots of pumpkins, corn and gourds in different sizes near the front door to add pops of color. Avoid carving a jack-o’-lantern; those will quickly rot and attract flies. 5. Appeal to all the senses. While youwant the house looking its best and lookingwarm, festive and fall-like, the finishing touch is smell. Bake up a batch of cookies or have an uncooked piewaiting in the refrigerator. When you knowsomeone is coming, pop it into the oven and let the lovely scent fill the house.
For a quicker result, light a cinnamon or pumpkin spice candle.
6. Don’t overlook common home staging tips.
Make sure you give your house a good cleaning, preferably by a professional, before you start showings. Try to minimize excess furniture or clutter in the house. Arrange furniture so it doesn’t block windows. Make sure your closets are clean and tidy; potential buyers pay a lot of attention to closets. And make sure your windows are clean and sparkly, shrubs trimmed and flowerbedsweeded. The buyer’s decision-making process begins at the curb, not the front door.