Staging Tips to Get Your Home Sold This Fall

If you’re selling your home this Fall, you’re likely aware that home sales start to slow down this time of year. Any edge that you can get over your competition will matter, and that’s where staging comes in. Buyers want to “connect” with a home when they see it for the first time. Staging can help you create that connection and get more offers on the table.

Start at the curb…

Everyone’s heard the term “curb appeal” before, but very few sellers understand the importance of it. Your home’s appearance from the outside is the first impression that buyers will get when they see your home. If you have dead landscaping and soggy leaves covering your entrance, it doesn’t scream “welcome home”. Make sure that landscaping is cleaned up and prepped for winter. Rake leaves and remove any dead plants from beds – this can be great time to add mulch for the winter too. You can also dress up your front entrance with some seasonal decor like pumpkins, hay bales, and festive corn stalks for an inviting first impression.

Brighten it up…

During the fall months, days get shorter and it gets dark much quicker than it did during the summer months. Consider adding additional outdoor lighting for evening showings – solar powered walkway lights can be an inexpensive and inviting addition. If you have outdoor features like a great deck or outdoor patio/seating area, enhance them with string lights for a cozy vibe. Make the most of natural light during the day too with window coverings open and light colored accents like throw pillows, blankets, and seasonal decor. If you will be adding fresh paint to your walls before putting your house on the market, choose light colors with a touch of warmth to brighten the overall feel of your home.

Sell the lifestyle…

In order to help buyers make an emotional connection with your home, help them see your home’s best features and how they will fit into their new life in your home. If you have a great kitchen, play up its features to help them envision family dinners or cooking for the holidays. If you have a fireplace, use seasonal decor on the mantle to help it stand out – buyers will be able to envision cozy winter nights by the fire. You can also use subtle seasonal scents throughout your home, but don’t over-do it. Some buyers will be turned off by overpowering scents – they should get hints of the scent, not feel like they just walked into a Yankee Candle store.

Don’t go overboard…

Most people are not offended by any of the elements of Halloween or Thanksgiving – they are neutral holidays without religious affiliation. That being said, most buyers will appreciate some seasonal decor, but don’t go crazy with it. A small setting of pumpkins and a hay bale at your front door is charming. An entire haunted grave yard in your front yard, complete with a fog machine, might be a bit much even if it is Halloween.