Tips For Selling Your Pittsburgh Home This Fall
Temperatures may be dropping, but the housing market is still hot! Autumn is the second best time of year to sell your home. So let’s talk about getting your house ready and looking it’s best for the season. Here are some ideas for attracting home buyers this fall:
Clean Up the Yard
Honestly sellers, a messy yard will not excite too many potential buyers, but it will make a lot of them drive right past what could be the perfect home for them. Why? Some buyers feel if you don’t take care of the outside, there’s a good chance the inside is no better. Rake the leaves and debris in your lawn. Clear the sidewalks and driveway. Cut away summer vines and remove dead flowers. Think neat, clean and pristine. Your home will sell in no time!
Curb Appeal
With the leaves falling off the trees, bushes no longer blooming, and summer flowers having reached their lifespan, it doesn’t take long for the outside of a home to look a little drab. Liven things up with some fall flowers in pretty pots. Chrysanthemums are probably the least expensive and most popular flower for fall. For as little as $20, you can add pops of color by placing flower pots by the front door, along the sidewalk and driveway, porches and decks. Adding pumpkins and gourds to the mix creates a very inviting space too!
Clean the windows
Clean windows make such a difference in the way a home shows! Windows full of smudges and streaks take away from the overall look of a house. Let’s face it, dirty windows run a close second to a dirty wall. So, wash your windows in and out!
Check the HVAC
With falling temperatures, we will be turning our furnaces on soon. Have the furnace checked before you turn on the heat. It’s better to discover and fix problems before your house goes on the market. You will be one step ahead of the game since a buyer will most likely want a home inspection. This is also a good time to change the furnace filter. You want the air in your home to smell fresh when prospective buyers walk through.
Create an Inviting Atmosphere
To create an inviting atmosphere, think light and bright, yet cozy and warm this time of year. Before an open house or showing, turn lights on everywhere in the home. If you followed tip #3, your windows are sparkling and should showcase your home. So, go ahead and open the blinds and pull back the drapes, let as much natural light in as you possibly can. If you have a gas fireplace, light it. Place fall-scented candles throughout the home – apple, spice, pumpkin, cinnamon – whatever you prefer. The rich smell of candles, along with the soft ambient glow, appeal to the senses. Make sure candles are properly contained and out of reach to avoid any hazards. Add a pretty throw to the couch and/or beds, and you’re good to go!
Offer Candy to Potential Buyers
This is my absolute favorite idea! Leave a guest book by the front door or on the kitchen countertop for people to leave comments about the home. How do you entice buyers to provide compliments or constructive criticism? Give them something in return. Consider placing bite-size candy bars in a pretty bowl next to the guest book. Gathering buyer feedback can be crucial. This is a great way to do it. Ok, this may be overzealous to some, but I hope this idea catches on!
If you are ready to get your home on the market this fall, please contact me. We can get you listed and your home ready to sell before the winter hits. Happy Selling.
