A crisp chill in the air, the turning of leaves (at least in some parts of the Country) and the scent of pumpkin spice are all trademarks of fall most of us love. There’s no doubt it’s a beautiful season, and if you’re planning on selling your home, Autumn is a great time to do so as there are fewer homes on the market (that means less competition), and the cooler weather offers you the perfect opportunity to market your home as the perfect place to hunker down and cozy up with your loved ones when it’s cold outside.

Here are a few home staging tips for fall that will help you close the deal before the end of the holidays!

• Focus on Curb Appeal – When your house is on the market, one of your main priorities should be your home’s curb appeal. Unfortunately, keeping an attractive-looking yard gets tougher in the fall. You’ll want to make sure your yard and beds are kept clean of falling leaves. Keeping up with falling leaves can be a chore, especially when they start falling during peak season. You need to be sure that potential buyers see your yard and home, not an unkempt lawn covered up by three inches of dead leaves. Add flowers that thrive in colder weather for a gorgeous pop of seasonal color. Remember that as your lawn plants, shrubs, and trees start to go dormant for the winter, paint chips and dirty sidings will become even more noticeable, so it might be a good idea to power wash sidings and driveways before the home goes on the market. Another good idea is to clean out gutters from excess leave accumulation and dirt.
• Let in the Light – As days start getting shorter and nights longer, the chances that your home will look dark and gloomy increases. Well-lit rooms look larger and more inviting. Before any showing, make sure to turn on ALL your lights (including appliance lights and closets), pull up the blinds, open the shutters, push back the drapes on every window. Add lamps to darker rooms or rooms without many windows.
• Don’t overdo it with Holiday Decorations – As with any seasonal decor, it’s important to make sure you don’t overdo your decorating efforts. Remember that you’re staging your home for potential buyers and not for yourself. Put a simple wreath on the door, grab a few potted plants for inside, and leave it at that. Remember, you want your buyers to remember the house, not your great fall or Halloween decorations. It’s always better to keep it simple.
• Get Cozy – Think about upping the coziness factor of your home with additional throw pillows and soft, nubby blankets. Make them realize how comfortable they’d be during fall, and the rest of the year. Highlight the coziness of your home, either by stacking firewood in the fireplace so it’s “ready to go” or adding some decorative candles. Anything that will encourage a buyer to feel relaxed and at home, ready to curl up with a good book and a comfy chair will help you to move your home faster. Pay attention to the Master Bedroom, change the bedding if necessary and add details that will make the potential buyers envision themselves in the space.
• Fall Foods and Scents – While we don’t recommend strong scents for home staging since often they can be overwhelming but during the fall it might be a good to bring in an appealing fragrance or scent during an Open House. The pleasant and subtle scent of fresh-baked cookies or a warm apple pie spreading through the house can trigger memories of comfort and home. If that’s too complicated, then maybe light some candles scented with apple spice, pumpkin spice, cinnamon, cranberries or ginger spice (always light candles when someone is in the house and never leave unattended). Remember to be subtle and not overpowering as any strong smell can quickly go from pleasant to nightmare.

All these tips will help you set the mood and provoke an emotional connection to the house that is key for potential buyers. You want your prospective buyers to walk in to your home and immediately feel at home and the best way to achieve this is with proper staging.

Have you had success selling your home in the fall season? What are some of the methods you used to prepare your home and dress it up for prospective buyers? Let me know what you think of these staging tips or if you would do anything differently.

If you are in the League City, Galveston or greater Houston area and need a hand staging your home for fall, give us a call at (281) 794-3669 or contact us here to set up a Walk & Talk Consultation.

Until next time!