In our market, fall is a slower home buying season. With school back in session and the holidays approaching, the buyer pool shrinks. Your home needs to make a great first impression to sell quickly.
Here are some tips to selling your home in the fall:
- Curb Appeal: A buyer’s first impression of the home is from the street. Freshen up mulch and pine straw and stay on top of leaf pick up to create an inviting, clean yard. With the sun setting earlier in the fall, outdoor lighting is important. Many buyers will be driving by the home or scheduling showing after work hours. Outdoor lighting will show off your home even after the sun sets.
- Home Staging: Professional staging, or using your own furniture, highlights the best features of your home. Staging de-clutters and de-personalizes to help buyers visualize the property as their own. In the fall, it will be tempting to decorate your home for the holidays. Holiday décor can be distracting during showings. Keep your home staged and decorated as you would year-round. This will keep your photos current after the holiday passes.
- Professional Photography: All of today’s home searches start on the internet, and your listing needs to capture attention from the first click. Professional photographers use wide-angle lenses to show off more space in a single shot and can adjust lighting to brighten your home.
- Pre-Inspection: Consider doing a pre-listing home inspection to uncover any needed repairs that can be completed prior to putting the home on the market. It is best to make repairs now rather than waiting for a buyer to ask for them down the road. With the changing seasons, also consider doing a heating and air tune-up to make sure your system is running properly.
- Minor Improvements Go a Long Way: Finally, small upgrades can make a big impact. Consider updating bathroom mirrors, changing light fixtures, and replacing out-of-date hardware (cabinet knobs and door handles). The minor details will add up to create an overall great first impression.
There are always buyers in the market during the autumn months, but you have to work a bit harder to get top dollar. Following these tips will help you get there!
About the Author: Lauren Newman is a Realtor on The Dede and B.V. Team at Carolina One Real Estate. Lauren joined The Dede and B.V. Team in 2014. Since then, she has helped almost 100 families buy and sell homes throughout the Charleston area. The Dede and B.V. team is a four-person, top producing team with a proven track record of success. They work with both buyers and sellers, first timers and seasoned investors and have been selling in the Lowcounty for over 20 years.
Lauren Newman
The Dede and B.V. Team
Carolina One Real Estate
843.810.0445
laurennewman@carolinaone.com
www.DedeandBV.com
