You may have heard that spring and summer are the top home-selling seasons, and that fall is as dead as those leaves piling up on your lawn. However, fall is a great time to sell your home. There is less competition, and the market is still very active. So if your house is on the market right now heed what many experts say is the one best thing you can do to reel in buyers: Give your home an autumn upgrade with some staging.
Staging is the technique sellers use to showcase their home at its best through upgrading furniture and decor. Celebrating all things autumn is the way to do it successfully now.
It All Starts At The Door
Focusing on curb appeal is the perfect way to get off on the right fall foot. Place a few potted mums in seasonal colors near the door, and add a simple, natural wreath made of faux leaves or even wheat. A wheelbarrow piled with pumpkins is a nice accent just make sure they aren’t being eaten by squirrels. Complete the vignette with a cute fall-themed doormat and shined-up light fixtures to greet guests, as the sun will soon be starting to make an early exit. While fall leaves are great to jump in, they are not so fantastic littering the law of the home you are trying to sell. So make sure that you take care of any errant foliage before potential buyers arrive.
Think Fall, Not Halloween
It turns out that while autumn appears to be a fairly universally loved, Halloween is not so much. Not everyone celebrates Halloween or will enjoy a scary Halloween-themed house. If you just can’t resist veering toward the holiday, at least choose cuter, friendlier Halloween decor, like decorated or carved pumpkins, candy corn, and friendly ghosts. Cobwebs, however, are a no-go.
Autumnal Tones
Changing leaves mean changing colors. If summer is all about bright popsicle tones or beachy blues, autumn is associated with warmer neutrals. Think the deep reds, burnt oranges, and golden yellows reminiscent of the shades of fallen leaves. Sprinkle these warmer tones around your house in your table decor, bathroom and kitchen towels, accent rugs, and even art, but do make sure they complement any existing color palette.
Embrace Cozy
Most folks love the shorter, crisp days of autumn, so have your house reflect that vibe. Warm up your couches and chairs with comfy throws, blankets, and pillows in autumnal tones and textured fabrics like chenille, herringbone, or corduroy. Swap out airy summer sheers for more substantial drapes or shutters, and trade a summer sisal or jute rug for a wool area carpet. Light a fire if possible, and make sure there are plenty of candles adorning the tables and counters. finally, don’t forget to turn on extra lamps, as sunlight wanes earlier in the day.
Sense of Smell
Baking a pie in the oven might be an overused home-selling trick, but if you’re into it, there no better time to do so than fall. Scents of cinnamon, apple, and pumpkin spice will all help potential buyers picture themselves baking up something luscious after an afternoon of apple picking. If baking up a treat isn’t your style, add scents around the home through spiced-scented candles, oil sticks, or potpourri.
Something Sweet
it’s become standard to see pasta or beans in clear glass jars in the kitchen, but consider placing a simple cylinder filled with candy corns or other colorful fall candies out. Also putting out a bowl of fun-sized candies, ready for trick-or-treaters will help fatigued home buyers who need a sugar boost.
Set The Table
We all know what is right around the corner, Thanksgiving and families will be thinking about gathering loved ones around, maybe even in the new home. Appeal to this dream, by setting the table as though you were expecting a large group for a sumptuous feast. Go big with china and crystal and fall-hued placemats and chargers. Dress the table with a runner, accented with a fall themed centerpiece.
