Fall may not be thought of as the best time to sell your home; however, with fewer people selling this time of year, you can take advantage of the timing and make yours the one to stand out. With fewer homes on the market, fall could be a great time to sell.

If done by choice, many people choose to list their homes for sale during the spring and summer months, mostly to accommodate families and school schedules. But, not every move is done by choice and many people have to move during the fall and winter months. This results in fewer homes on the market for the buyers, and an opportunity for your house to shine! Buyers might also benefit by purchasing a home in the fall.

Trulia contributing writer Laura Agondoni, writes: Fall real estate can be more of a buyer’s market. A buyer’s market means you, as a buyer, are in the driver’s seat. That’s good news if you’re home-hunting in the fall: There are typically fewer buyers after Labor Day. You might find that competition is down for homes after Labor Day, meaning you’re probably in a buyer’s market. And this is significant. “I find that I am able to negotiate better prices for buyers [during September and October] because we have less competition and the market is slower,” says Joan Brothers, an agent in New York, NY.

If you are selling your house in the fall, Elizabeth Weintraub from thebalance.com offers a few tips to keep in mind to ensure yours is the one to stand out:

 

Clean Up the Yard

Rake dead leaves and debris in your lawn. Don’t let overgrown vegetation block the windows or path to the entrance. Cutting bushes and tree limbs will let the sun inside and showcase the exterior of your home. Cut away summer vines and cut down dead flowers. Make the most of autumn weather in the fall real estate market.

Create Autumn Curb Appeal

The most popular autumn flowers are chrysanthemums (or mums) and they bloom for a long time. Marigolds are also a good choice for fall. Both mums and marigolds are available in yellow, which is a nice home selling color. Plant them in pots. Place pots on the steps and along the sidewalk. Accent with pumpkins or other types of squash.

Dress the Windows

Rain and wind from over the summer months can make your windows dusty and streaked by autumn. You might not notice smudges, but buyers will, if only on a subconscious level. To sell a home, your windows need to sparkle. Remove screens and spray them down.

Check the HVAC

You want the air inside your home to smell fresh. When was the last time you changed your furnace filter? You can buy 90-day furnace filters. Have the HVAC system checked before you need to turn on the heat. Besides, the buyer will ask a home inspector to look at your HVAC. If you discover problems with your furnace, it’s better to fix them before your home goes on the market.

Clean Out the Fireplace for the Fall Real Estate Market

If the fireplace is filled with cobwebs because it hasn’t been used for months, vacuum it out and wash it down. Some home stagers arrange knickknacks in the fireplace in place of wood logs.

Utilize Autumn Accent Colors

You don’t need to dump a lifeless sofa when you can accessorize its dullness with bright red, orange and / or golden yellow pillows. Toss a quilt or autumn-colored throw over a chair. After you’ve cleared away the clutter and depersonalized each room, bring a little bit of autumn hues to each room by placing bold-colored accent pieces in odd groupings such as 3’s and 5’s. Create an autumn centerpiece for the dining room table by arranging pine cones and nuts around orange candles, stick in a few leaves from the yard.

Turn on the Lights Everywhere

Above all, bring in the light. When days get shorter, the sun sets lower in the horizon and casts wider shadows. Pull up the blinds, open the shutters, push back the drapes on every window. Turn on every light in the house, including appliance lights and closet lights. Brighten darker rooms with few windows by placing spotlights on the floor behind furniture.

Source:

http://www.trulia.com/blog/fall-real-estate-market-characteristics/

https://www.thebalance.com/how-to-sell-a-home-in-autumn-1799056

http://www.talkofthehouse.com/decorating-for-fall-outside-our-house/