Prepare Your House to Sell This Fall

If you’re thinking of putting your house on the market this fall, now is the time to get started. The end of summer brings a new crop of prospective homebuyers, fresh from vacation and looking to settle into a new home before winter sets in. In fact, autumn is the second most popular time of year to buy a house, following spring. There are a few things that you should be working on now in order to be prepared to list your house in early fall.

The Exterior. The end of summer and onset of fall brings a lot of yard work – perhaps more so than any other time of year. Stowing summer lawn equipment and furniture and raking and bagging fallen leaves are only part of the picture. With the changing weather, it’s time to invest in a few outdoor flowers in planters or hanging baskets. Mums are a popular autumn bloom and warm yellow shades are homey and inviting. Don’t spend a lot of money. The last thing you want to do is make large expenditures toward a home that you’re going to be leaving. But make sure your landscaping looks nice – particularly any foliage that becomes especially beautiful in the fall. Apply a fresh coat of paint to your front door to make it look like new.

The Interior. Just because it’s called “spring cleaning” doesn’t mean that you can’t purge your house during other seasons. In fact, this is a good time of year to rent a Dumpster for your driveway and fill it with all the superfluous junk that’s been accumulating in the garage, attic, basement, and closets. Consider renting a storage unit as well, and removing some personal items from your home to allow prospective buyers to envision your home furnished with their belongings. Wash windows that have gotten grimy during the summer months and for a little additional charm, add some understated seasonal decorations around the house in fall accent colors – autumn colors are the warmest of the year, and practically shout comfort. Autumn centerpieces can be as simple as pine cones and candles. Showcase aspects of your house that lend themselves to entertaining – the holidays are right around the corner, and chances are good that a potential buyer will be thinking ahead to family celebrations. The smells of mulled cider and pumpkin pastries are tantalizing fragrances that will appeal to homebuyers and suggest the warmth of the upcoming season.

HVAC. You haven't had the heat on in a while! Have your heating systems checked by a professional and change the filter. If there are problems with the heating, make sure they are fixed prior to a home inspection so they won’t delay your sale.

Lighting. With the change of the seasons, days are shorter, so make sure to brighten your home with plenty of light. Open blinds and shutters and bring in the warm glow of autumn sunlight. Turn on exterior lights earlier in the evening to showcase the outside of your home. If your agent schedules a showing, turn on all lights, including those in closets, before you leave your house.

Autumn is a comforting and beautiful time of year, particularly in New England. Let the bounty of the season work for you when you list your home this fall.