There are several benefits to selling your home in the fall. There’s less competition, sellers are more eager negotiate and make a deal, and you can portray your property as the perfect place for a potential buyer to celebrate the holidays with their family. Here are five simple ways to stage your home during the autumn months.
1. Add festive lights to your decor.
The daylight hours are decreasing, and the nights are expanding. This is wonderful for sellers, because rooms with plenty of light appear larger and more welcoming. Before a showing or open house, turn on every single light in the house. If it’s dark outside, buyers will immediately feel warmth emanating from your house as soon as they park in the driveway.
2. Use the fireplace.
If your home is lucky enough to have a fireplace, use it! Very few things in life say “welcome home” like a bright, warm, crackling fire. If it’s cold outside, light a fire before each showing. This will not only warm your living room, but it will also draw attention to the fact that your home is naturally cozy in the colder months.
3. Seasonal scents are key.
It’s usually smart to use unscented candles during open houses, because you never know if potential buyers are allergic, strongly averse to certain smells, or sensitive to strong scents. However, you might be able to break the rules in the fall. Specific seasons are strongly tied to emotions, and scents such as apple pie and harvest will evoke warm, cozy feelings from potential buyers. In the winter, go for evergreen, gingerbread, and cinnamon candles.
4. Increase the cozy factor of your home.
Cozy details, such as soft blankets and plush pillows, will instantly increase the warmth of your home. Your property will sell much faster if a buyer feels relaxed, calm, and cozy inside. Don’t ever willingly ignore the small details, because they truly make all the difference.
5. Don’t overdo the decorations.
Seasonal decor is wonderful for setting the mood, but try not to go overboard. Candles, festive pillows, and front door wreaths are fantastic. Stay away from a full-fledged pumpkin patch in your front yard, complete with a scarecrow, fake spiderwebs, and bales of hay. Likewise, don’t clutter your home with holiday knickknacks of all shapes and sizes. You want potential buyers to see the actual structure of your home, instead of a pile of tacky decorations.