While the basics of selling a home usually stay the same, the seasons can make a massive difference to the market and the buyers who might be interested in your property.
Fall usually marks a slight decline in market activity, but this doesn't mean worse prospects for selling your home, especially if you take our panel of experts' advice and swot up on easy hacks to speed up selling a house in this seasonal slump.
Here, expert real estate agents reveal the six things you need to know about selling a home in fall to ensure a speedy sale.
Everything you need to know about selling a home in fall
Much like selling a home in summer, changing your sales approach to fit the season, the weather, and the approaching holidays will help to attract buyers – especially in a season where they are looking for somewhere cozy to host family and friends and make new memories.
With that in mind, here are the six things to consider before making a fall listing.
1. There are fewer homes on the market
Given that summer is usually the peak for market activity, fall usually has fewer homes on the market, reveals Ashley Nemecek, real estate agent at Douglas Elliman. ‘This can result in increased interest in your listing,’ she says.
As a result, it is important to make adequate time for viewings and consider looking at more serious buyers with pre-approval first to make the process easier and avoid lots of back and forth. It is a great way to sell a house quickly without extra added stress.
2. It pays to highlight cozy features
As the seasons change and the weather gets colder, it is important to take note of the cozy home features house buyers want and make an effort to highlight them.
Sarah Goss, managing broker at Southwestern Real Estate, suggests ‘creating the right mood as Fall is all about the comforts of home. Staging a house with freshly picked apples, cozy blankets, spice candles, and a light breeze from a cracked window to create an atmosphere that rivals Grandma's best hug.’
If you have a real fireplace, now is the time to prep your chimney for winter and light it up for that instant cozy appeal.
Keep clutter hidden from potential buyers by storing it in seasonal baskets that add a touch of rustic charm to any home in fall. There is a taller version of this cute woven number, with a handle, the Rear Pannier Basket.
Investing in a plaid wool throw is a great way to make any home look instantly cozy, helping to drawer new buyers in and help them imagine a cozy holiday season in the space. Merino wool is brilliant for heat regulation. It can keep you cool in summer, warm in winter. Magic!
This large rich pumpkin soufflé scented candle is blended with browned butter, toasted nutmeg, and cinnamon, then swirled with sweet vanilla cream and brown sugar. The perfect gourmand fragrance to welcome buyers in.
3. Buyers may be more motivated
Along with increased buyer interest and a lack of options on the market, buyers may be looking for a quick purchase to get settled before the height of the holiday period, points out Cindy Raney, global luxury property specialist at Coldwell Banker Global Luxury Properties.
‘This period is an excellent time to sell, as buyers are often motivated to close before the holiday season,' Cindy says. 'As the holidays approach, many sellers feel inclined to take their homes off the market, but we see things differently.
‘We believe this is an opportune time to keep listings active. With fewer homes on the market, competition is limited, and the buyers who are looking tend to be serious and ready to make decisions.’
4. Lighting makes a massive difference
Tom Postilio and Mickey Conlon, agents at Compass say, ‘With days getting shorter, consider optimal showing times that show the home in its best light (pun intended). The soft amber tones of autumn light can add an extra sense of coziness to the space.’
It is also worth investing in upgrading home and porch lighting ideas to make a home look cozy and invite potential buyers in. Every little helps when it comes to helping buyers imagine a future life in your property.
5. Curb appeal matters
With fall comes a long list of fall lawn care tasks. Just because you are looking to move out of the property does not mean that you should neglect your curb appeal ideas – especially if you want a quick sale.
Ashley Nemecek, real estate agent, recommends ‘boosting curb appeal by raking leaves, refreshing garden beds with seasonal flowers, and adding a touch of seasonal accents outside.’
This rake collapses down to 8-inches wide for easy storage or transportation for you to bring it with you when you move. It's extendable arm makes it versatile at 63 inched at its longest, and spreading out to 25 inches wide.
6. Complete repairs before the cold weather
After the curb appeal is dealt with, it is worth taking some time to prepare a home for fall by running some general maintenance, suggests Latham Jenkins, broker at Live Water Properties.
He advises, ‘Fall buyers appreciate a move-in-ready home that they can settle into without needing to handle immediate maintenance tasks during the colder months.’
Consider checking the HVAC and heating systems, servicing them, and keeping hold of the documents to give buyers peace of mind. Similarly, repair any structural damage to the exterior of the home, such as repairing cracked siding to stop water leaks. Nothing puts buyers off like water damager and mold creeping in.
Keep in mind that the property market fluctuates year to year and from location to location. It is always advisable to get a trusted, reputable estate agent on board to help you through the process for the quickest and least stressful sale.
Next, learn how to stage your home for success, as well as the things you should never do when staging a house.
