Next to spring, fall is the busiest season for home buying and selling. Research from The National Association of Realtors Seasonal Patterns in Home Sales Data, shows that singles, young couples, and empty nesters are still in the market well into fall and are more likely to buy a home during this season than any other buying group. These buyers often want to close quickly, because most want to get into their new home before the holiday season begins. Fall buyers and sellers tend to be motivated to move, unlike the tire kickers and window shoppers who often come out in spring. Many are motivated to close by year end to take advantage of end of the year tax breaks. In addition to mortgage interest and property taxes, if you have prepaid some interest before the due date of your first payment, and if you close your loan before the year’s end, that interest can also be deducted. You need to take advantage of this last push before winter sets in, and a major part of your strategy should be to stage your home effectively. Just because your flowers aren’t in full bloom doesn’t mean you should neglect your home’s curb appeal. Beautiful colors and changing leaves create a great opportunity for fall curb appeal. Don’t overdo it but dress up your front steps with a few brightly colored mums, asters, or goldenrod. Rake your leaves and clean your flowerbeds. Keep your driveway and walk ways clean of leaves too. Once you've drawn potential buyers in, make them realize how comfortable they'd be by creating cozy spaces in your home that highlight key selling points. If you have a fireplace, make it a focal point, arrange chairs around it and light the fire, drape a lush afghan over a chair to create a cozy place to curl up with a good book. If you have a great kitchen or dining area for entertaining, draw people in with some delicious seasonal, warm apple cider or freshly baked pumpkin bread will make your home smell great. Shorter days and less sun make good interior lighting more important than ever when showing a home. While it is best to avoid evening showings at this time of year, no matter what time it is, your home should look bright, clean and open. Switch out all of your light fixtures with higher wattage warm light bulbs. Turn on all the lights, make sure the shades are wide open and wash the windows inside and out to let in as much light as possible.Fall Home Selling Tips
- By Michael McCann
- Posted
Next to spring, fall is the busiest season for home buying and selling. Research from The National Association of Realtors Seasonal Patterns in Home Sales Data, shows that singles, young couples, and empty nesters are still in the market well into fall and are more likely to buy a home during this season than any other buying group. These buyers often want to close quickly, because most want to get into their new home before the holiday season begins. Fall buyers and sellers tend to be motivated to move, unlike the tire kickers and window shoppers who often come out in spring. Many are motivated to close by year end to take advantage of end of the year tax breaks. In addition to mortgage interest and property taxes, if you have prepaid some interest before the due date of your first payment, and if you close your loan before the year’s end, that interest can also be deducted. You need to take advantage of this last push before winter sets in, and a major part of your strategy should be to stage your home effectively. Just because your flowers aren’t in full bloom doesn’t mean you should neglect your home’s curb appeal. Beautiful colors and changing leaves create a great opportunity for fall curb appeal. Don’t overdo it but dress up your front steps with a few brightly colored mums, asters, or goldenrod. Rake your leaves and clean your flowerbeds. Keep your driveway and walk ways clean of leaves too. Once you've drawn potential buyers in, make them realize how comfortable they'd be by creating cozy spaces in your home that highlight key selling points. If you have a fireplace, make it a focal point, arrange chairs around it and light the fire, drape a lush afghan over a chair to create a cozy place to curl up with a good book. If you have a great kitchen or dining area for entertaining, draw people in with some delicious seasonal, warm apple cider or freshly baked pumpkin bread will make your home smell great. Shorter days and less sun make good interior lighting more important than ever when showing a home. While it is best to avoid evening showings at this time of year, no matter what time it is, your home should look bright, clean and open. Switch out all of your light fixtures with higher wattage warm light bulbs. Turn on all the lights, make sure the shades are wide open and wash the windows inside and out to let in as much light as possible.
