Fall is my favorite time of year! Nothing energizes me more than the crisp morning air and the beautiful colors on the trees. I love snuggling with a fuzzy throw, hot chocolate in my hand while I sit by the outdoor fire pit laughing with family and friends on a cool autumn night. I love football games, bonfires, hayrides, pumpkins,corn stalks and the beautiful array of mums popping up in landscapings and front porches.
I also love how the change in season motivates me to do a little "nesting" and I want to bring that outside feeling in my own home. I want to surround myself with warm colors and textures, candles, a crackling fire and the smell of apple pie.
Ahhh...are you feeling it? I know I am.
Now if you're lucky enough to be selling your home this time of year, doesn't it make sense to evoke this kind of emotion I've described to your potential buyers? Did you know that Fall is a great time to sell your home? The pool of buyers are more serious as they are motivated to find a home to move into just in time for the holidays. And YOU, the seller, can take full advantage of that!
Here's some simple, budget friendly ideas to make the most of the Fall season and help transform your house into a warm, welcoming and irresistible place potential buyers can call "home"!
Welcome Them 'Home'
Refreshing the landscaping for Fall requires a little work on your part but has a MAJOR impact on the way your house looks and feels to buyers. The good news is (at least in the Midwest here) that the grass is really green right now. For some of you these landscaping "do's" may be a no-brainer but keep reading, you might pick up something here you didn't think about before.
- Pull out any dead summer plants and don't forget to edge around that landscaping (There is nothing worse than dead summer flowers in October!)
- Add Mulch or till up the mulch you put down in the spring to freshen it
- Plant colorful mums in different areas of your landscaping. A pop of color is a needed element as plants go dormant
- Get rid of those spider webs! Spiders here in Cincinnati are crazy this time of year. Check around windows, doors, light fixtures, etc.
Add colorful mums in different colors, varing heights and put together in groups of 3's & 5's. Add pumpkins for a really nice welcoming touch. 3 mums + 2 pumpkins= A nice balanced group of 5.
If you have a porch, add colorful pillows to the chairs and a throw. Add lanterns and candles for a warm touch
Decks and Backyards: Don't forget these very important spaces this time of year too. With the popularity of outside living spaces, this is a crucial selling feature! Be sure to include pots of colorful mums here. Just like the porch area, add candles, lanterns and pillows to your seating. Have a Fire Pit? Be sure to stage this area as well! No Fire Pit? Worth the staging investment (and you get to enjoy it!) Let's show potential buyers how wonderful it would be to live in this home!
"Wow! I LOVE This Home!"
Layer Your Rooms with Fall inspired pillows and a warm, fuzzy throw. Believe it or not, I go into a lot of homes where there are no pillows on the sofa or chairs. I'm not surprised as many people hate pillows interferring with their TV watching and book reading while their sitting on the sofa or their favorite chair....
But did you know that adding a few pillows with a pop of color ( and while I'm add it...maybe a rug and a few key accessory pieces) can completely change the look AND feel of a room? AND the cost to do this can easily be less than $100. Other layer strategies includes a cozy fire this time of year (which is free..well, sorta) and lighting candles always sets a warm and inviting mood.
My seller clients are constantly amazed at how a few key items can make such a HUGE difference once they know what they need in a particular room. Trust me....you've got a great house, you just need that "layer" to show buyers just how truely wonderful your rooms with those fabulous selling features are!
Add A Warm And Inviting Scent to capture the best of the Fall season. Scents such as apple, pumpkin or another “warm” aroma are the perfect choice for this time of year. Add an oil ring within a lamp, potpourri or a candle in key rooms. Scents should never overpower but be very subtle throughout the home especially when selling.
Fall Centerpieces and Decor can add a nice touch in bringing the Fall season inside. Many times this can be accomplished with things you already have. I always love to hit Michael's or Hobby Lobby for Fall floral picks or those cool "beady" swags that can be placed around candles or an accessory for an instant Fall look. Of course, if you are not the crafty type or pressed for time, many stores like Kirklands, Target or Home Goods have fabulous Fall arrangements and decor to choose from. While your out there, pick up a few fresh towels in orange, red or browns and top it off with a pretty autumn embroidered hand towel for the half bath.
Here are a few of my favorite "FALL" accessories that inspired me to write this post while I was shopping for a staging job. (Pssst...all these items are from Target)
Inspired but think you need a little help to make your house irresistible to buyers? Our Staging Consultations are cost effective and will give you an exact "plan" of what you need to do to stage your house and get it SOLD. If your house didn't sell over the summer, NOW is the time to take action and take advantage of the Fall season. Let's work together to create beautiful spaces that will help sell your house!
Let's Get Staging!
513-379-5488
teresameyer@fuse.net
www.stageastar.com
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Teresa Meyer is the Owner and Lead Staging Designer at Stage a Star, Cincinnati's Premiere Real Estate Staging company located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Teresa is an ASP, Accredited Staging Professional and CSPE, Certified Staging Professional Elite and Ohio Certified CSPE Trainer to real estate professionals in Cincinnati. She is a member of RESA, Real Estate Staging Association and currently is the State of Ohio RESA President. Teresa can be reached at 513-379-5488 or by email: teresameyer@fuse.net to answer your questions about the staging process and looks forward to assisting you in preparing and staging your house for the Cincinnati real estate market.
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