Top Three Tips for Selling Your Home During the Fall Season

Selling your home during the fall season presents its own set of challenges. Potential homebuyers may start to become preoccupied with holiday celebrations. They may also be more sensitive to changes in light and temperature as the season changes and will have increased awareness of the leaves falling from the trees. Consider these three main tips to welcome buyers make your home stand above the competition.

Focus on Season, Not Holidays

Keep in mind that not all potential homebuyers celebrate fall holidays such as Halloween. Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations can also cover up some of your home's more beautiful features. Instead of putting out the full gamut of holiday decorations typically appropriate for the fall holidays, consider using autumn colors in your table cloths, bathroom towels and displays. Candles scented for the season are also appropriate, but be sure to use them sparingly-some people have allergies to various scents.

You may also wish to use fall harvest foods such as corn, pumpkins and squash on your kitchen table to invoke warm, cozy feelings of the season. This will make your home seem more inviting to buyers without detracting from the architectural elements and stylistic possibilities there.

Fall Curb Appeal

In many regions, autumn brings falling leaves and the death of summer flowers as colder temperatures roll in. The garden in front of your home may lack the same appeal in fall and your spacious lawn may be covered in leaves.

Remedy these curb appeal issues by raking frequently. While it's important to do this before the agent shows your home, remember that your home is always on display with a 'for sale' sign out front, so consistent tidiness will help your home sell. To compensate for the lack of flowers, place a seasonal wreath on your door. You can even make one inexpensively using supplies from your local craft store.

Increase Lighting

As fall arrives and winter approaches, it gets darker and colder earlier in many regions. This can be a subconscious turn-off to an otherwise-interested buyer. Give your home a competitive advantage by considering light, especially if your agent will show your home in the evening.

Keep curtains open in the early evening hours to take advantage of the dwindling light and provide a flattering view of your street or yard. Use candles, lamps and overhead lighting to illuminate the spaces that really sell your home, providing a warm effect.

Your overall changes should allow your home to speak for itself instead of appearing in a shroud of holiday décor. You should also aim to make potential buyers feel welcomed and subtly reminded of the fall season as they tour your home.