Early fall in some markets is sometimes a hot selling season. But as days grow shorter and temperatures cooler, fall can present some challenges for home sellers, especially as fall edges closer to the holidays. In fact, November can be one of the slowest months of the year for home sales in many markets. So even in the current seller’s market, you will need to pay special attention to details in order to sell quickly and at a good price in the fall. Read on, then, to find out how to prepare your home for selling success this fall in Santa Cruz.
Clean up the Yard and Work on Curb Appeal
Your front yard especially must look its absolute best in order to create that crucial great first impression when potential buyers arrive. And we all know what happens in the fall – leaves and branches fall. In addition, summer’s growth may have taken over in places. So one of the first steps to prepare your home for selling success this fall in Santa Cruz is to clean up the yard.
“You’ll want to ensure that your front lawn looks neat and tidy when potential buyers arrive at showings. Create a to-do list and send the whole family to work outside. Rake up dead leaves and debris from your lawn. Don’t let overgrown vegetation block the windows or the path to the entrance. Cutting bushes and tree limbs back will let the sun inside and showcase the exterior of your home. Cutaway summer vines and cut down dead flowers. Make the most of the autumn weather in the fall real estate market.”
In addition, you’ll need to do other things to enhance curb appeal. And one of the best of these is placing season-appropriate flowers in strategic places. “The most popular autumn flowers are chrysanthemums (or mums), and they bloom for a long time. Marigolds are another good idea for fall. Both mums and marigolds are available in yellow, a number one home-selling color. Plant them in pots, then place the pots on the steps and along the sidewalk. Accent with pumpkins or other types of squash.”
Spiffy Up the Windows
To prepare your home for fall selling success, you’ll also need to tackle that odious chore of cleaning the windows. Potential buyers will definitely notice the windows, and dirty windows can be a huge detractor.
After spring rains and the dry, dusty weather of late summer, the windows of most homes are dirty and streaked. You probably don’t notice because you’ve grown accustomed to looking through them in this condition, but buyers will notice. “Your windows have to sparkle to sell your home. [So] wash your windows inside and out . . . [And] remove screens, and spray them down.”
Tend to the Furnace
Fall isn’t yet cold weather, but temps are cooling. One thing, then, that will be top of mind for fall buyers is the condition and operating efficiency of the furnace. So here’s what industry pros recommend regarding your HVAC system to prepare your home for a fall sale.
“When potential buyers walk through your home, it should feel welcoming and toasty warm. If you’re selling a house in the colder months of fall, it’s more important than ever to have a professional HVAC contractor inspect the heating system and make any necessary repairs to ensure it runs efficiently and quietly. . . . Also remember to replace the furnace filter monthly while your home is on the market to keep indoor air as fresh and dust-free as possible.”
Take Care of the Chimney
Similarly, you need to take care of your fireplace and chimney when you prepare your home.
“The cooler temperatures of fall make fireplaces especially attractive to potential home buyers. Your real estate agent may even suggest lighting a fire if you’re having a showing on a particularly cold day. Over the summer, however, birds, squirrels, and other little critters may have built nests in the chimney, so it’s a good idea to have a skilled chimney sweep come out and clean the fireplace and the chimney before you list the house.”
Light It Up
Because the days are growing shorter and often overcast, you can’t always depend on good natural lighting when showing your home during the fall. Experts recommend, then, that you turn all the lights on the house. But before that, in order to prepare, you need to replace burnt-out or weak bulbs and thoroughly clean all the light fixtures. Optimal lighting will make your home look its best and so be more appealing to buyers.
Clean Up the Bathroom(s)
And then there are the bathrooms. During summer’s hot, sweaty weather, bathrooms get a lot of use, and this means your bathroom may have some mold/mildew buildup or at the least need a good cleaning from all the use. So to prepare your home those bathrooms a good cleaning, especially the tubs and showers.
Bring Fall Indoors
A good tactic to prepare your home for fall selling success is to bring a little of the fall indoors.
“Don’t limit seasonal decor to your home’s exterior. Incorporate the colors and spirit of fall in your living spaces, where potential buyers will appreciate the homey touches. Again, skip the Halloween decorations, but feel free to toss an autumn-hued throw over the back of a sofa or on an entry bench, and display a centerpiece of ornamental gourds, pine cones, and warm russet candles on the dining room table to celebrate the season.”
Work Closely with a Santa Cruz Agent to Prepare Your Home
Finally, be sure to work closely with an experienced local agent when preparing your home for a fall sale. What works well in one local market may not work in another, and your agent will be able to guide you toward selling success. So when you want to sell in the fall and do everything you can to prepare your home for selling success, contact us today at 831-588-2334.
