As fall quickly approaches, many homeowners wonder whether they should sell their home now or wait until spring. Wondering what the answer to this question is?

The answer is... it depends. Just because the summer has officially ended doesn’t mean that homes will not be sold for the remainder of the year. Real estate is being bought and sold 365 days a year, period.

The fall season can actually be a great time to be selling a home. There are many pros to selling a home in the fall, but certainly some cons as well.

If you want to sell your home in the fall, we need to address some of the areas that will need to be considered before listing. Remember, I am here to make it easy for you, so below I put together some tips that I feel should be considered when getting your home ready to list.

Fall Inspections & Cleaning

No matter the season, I will always suggest a pre-inspection of the home and a thorough cleaning.

If you’re planning on selling your home in the fall, there are a few items that you should tackle prior to listing your home for sale.

One of the most important components in your home is the HVAC system. It’s recommended by heating and cooling professionals that your HVAC system be inspected and cleaned yearly. Since a furnace is not run very often throughout the summer months and is run more often during the winter months, the fall is a great time to have your HVAC system inspected and cleaned!

One of the most common problems resulting from home inspections relates to a home's furnace. At the very least, it’s very common for a buyer to ask a seller to have the furnace inspected and cleaned prior to closing. Having your furnace inspected and cleaned by a HVAC specialist prior to selling your home can be beneficial as you can provide the receipt as proof ithas already been completed!

Another important inspection & cleaning is the chimney. If your home has a wood-burning fireplace, it’s recommended you have it inspected and swept yearly. Similar to a furnace, since the fireplace is rarely used in the summer months and frequently during the winter, the best time to have it inspected and swept is the fall. Again, this inspection should be done by a professional chimney company.

Curb Appeal Still Matters

Just like clutter, curb appeal is an all-season feature that matters. One component that today’s home buyers want when buying a home is a nice outdoor space. A common mistake that sellers make when selling their home in the fall is they neglect the exterior.

The number one place where homeowners who are selling their home in the fall drop the ball is forgetting to clean up their yard, or not removing debris. Some of the most important fall “clean up” tasks that should be completed when selling a home during the fall include;
- Clean the gutters
- Pressure wash the siding
- Raking leaves
- Remove loose sticks
- Weed flower beds
- Trimming flowers, bushes, and shrubs
- Aerate the lawn

Little things that make a difference in the overall appearance of the exterior of your home!

Prepare Your Home for Showings

No matter what Minnesota season we are in, this statement is firm. Clean out the clutter. One of the most noticeable things to a prospective buyer is clutter. Some most noticed areas that often collect clutter that should be checked are near the stairs, entryways, and closets. Make sure the stairs are clear and that all shoes, coats, hats, and mail is out of sight.

Another big area to consider cleaning is the front of the refrigerator. Your child’s drawing from class is sentimental and hung on the fridge for all to see. You may have notes, grocery lists, and calendars magnetized and available for use. But, potential buyers care about what their future appliances will look like. Having a clean surface - even on appliances - makes a difference in how buyers see themselves using the space.

It Gets Darker Sooner

We all know that when Fall comes it gets darker sooner. Your big windows that let all the natural light in don’t do justice to what a home looks like during the day. The best way to solve this problem when selling your home is to ensure all the lights are on during a showing and the proper light bulbs are in place. Crazy as it sounds, the type of light bulb used will give a different vibe to the darker hours of showings. Ensure you have daylight bulbs in all your ceiling fixtures and lamps. This simple change gives your whole home a magazine-quality look, and makes your home look and feel brighter and bigger.

Set the Mood

It is important to understand that decorating and staging are not the primary reason a home sells, that normally relates to the price. However, preparing for a showing on both the exterior and interior in the correct way can make a major difference in the time it takes to sell your home.

It can also affect the price a seller receives for their home.
If you decide to sell your home during the fall, there are many decorating tips, staging tips, and ways to embrace the fall season. During the fall season, the warm color pattletes of Yellow, red, and orange come out! Don’t hesitate on getting your home decorated for the upcoming holiday but putting mums on the front step, or adding a splash of colored flowers to the tabletop as it can help potential home buyers envision themselves in your home during these holidays.

Don’t go too overboard during the Halloween season, though. You won’t want to scare a potential buyer with a Goblin that pops out from the wall when they walk through the front door.

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Are you thinking of selling your home in Rochester, Minnesota? If so, contact us, we’d be happy to share with you our advice on the ways to prepare your home for the local Rochester real estate market and also for showings!

Tips for Selling in the Fall - Andrew Atwood - Century 21 Atwood