Tips For Selling Your Home in The Town of Huntington This Fall

With summer just about over, the real estate market usually picks up again in autumn.  If your home is currently on the market, or if you are thinking of putting it on during the fall season, here are some tips to help your home stand out like a shiny penny against its competition.

• If your home doesn't have curb appeal your home has a strike against it from the moment the buyers get out of the car.  Add an autumn wreath to your front door to welcome them.  Add a pot or two of some lovely colorful fall flowers near your front door--chrysanthemum or kale are nice options.  Add a pumpkin or two when they start arriving in the stores.  If you are decorating for Halloween, be sure you don't overdo it.  Keep it tasteful.  If you have a nice patio table in the back yard, a nice 'autumnscape" would be a nice touch.
• Outdoor maintenance is a must!  Make sure that leaves are raked and swept from walkways and stairs (front and back stairs).  Do a fall clean-up of the garden beds.  If your home needs to be painted, there's still time to have it done before the weather gets too cold.  If a house painting is not in the budget, look into powerwashing.  Are your gutters filled?  Have them cleaned out now, knowing that you may have to do it again when the leaves are done falling. 
• Declutter countertops and closets.  In the buyer's mind, clutter equals not enough space.  Stow appliances in a cabinet and take them out as needed so they don't sit on the counter.  (It will appear that you have more counterspace).  Start putting summer clothes in storage boxes.  Fall is a great time to have a yard sale to get rid of things that you don't want to take with you.  Remember, the less you have in each room, the larger the room will look.
• Make your home smells like grandma's.  If you love to bake, then go to town!  Realistically, you probably won't have time to do serious baking evey time your home is going to be shown.  But there are things you can do to make it smell like autumn, or that may even bring back warm, fuzzy memories for your buyers.  Try taking some pastry dough and sprinkle it with spices associated with fall such as cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice.  Or, add a few drops of vanilla extract to the dough.  Put it on a cookie sheet and into a slow oven (200 degrees).  Or, steep a small cinnamon stick or some cloves and a slice of orange in some water on the stove.  If you have apple cider on hand, steep a cupful.   Candles can be nice, but use them sparingly.  They can be overwhelming if they are not good quality.  The same can be said of air fresheners, plug-ins and potpourri. 
• Turn on the lights.  Remember the direction of the sun is changing and the days are getting shorter.  Turn lights on in every room.  Pull up the shades, open the drapes.  Bright rooms look larger and are welcoming to the buyer.
• Do you have a fireplace?  Now is the time to clean it out.  If you can, consider having the fireplace lit during showings to welcome your buyer.  If that's not practical, put a fireplace candelabra in the hearth and light the (unscented) candles.  It's a dramatic and inviting effect.
• Fall is a great time to have a tag or garage sale.  It's a great opportunity to get rid of all the things you don't want to take with you to your new home and that are taking up space in your home.  And who knows.  Maybe one of your customers will be interested in buying your home!
• Consider having your home professionally staged.  A professional home stager can do wonders with things you have in your home to make your home look like it was professionally decorated.
• The number one tip for making your home stand out compared to its competition in the fall, or any season, is to be sure your price is competitive.  If you are new to the market, make sure your price is right from the day you hit the market so that you'll create excitement in the marketplace.  If you've been on the market and at the same price for a month or more, then it's time to reevaluate your price with your agent.  Whether your new to the market, or your home has been on the market for a while, make sure your agent goes over the comparables (currently on the market and recently sold) with you.  Though it's very difficult to be objective about your home compared to others, it's really important to do so in order to make sure your home is priced right for today's market.

Take advantage of the fall selling season.  Making your home stand out, both in appearance and in price, will increase your chances of selling quickly and for the highest price possible.