Fall is one of my favorite times of year in Michigan. The weather starts cooling down, the leaves begin to change, and there’s just something about a home feeling a little more comfortable this time of year.
If you’re selling your home this fall, you don’t need to go overboard decorating or spend a bunch of money getting ready for showings. A few simple things can make a big difference when a buyer walks through the door.
Here are seven easy places to start.
1. Start at the Front Door
First impressions happen before a buyer ever steps inside.
Sweep off the porch, knock down the cobwebs, clean up the landscaping and put away anything that has accumulated near the entryway. A simple fall wreath or a couple of mums can add some color without making the front porch feel cluttered.
You don’t need to turn your porch into a pumpkin patch. Keep it clean and simple.
2. Turn the Lights On
As the days get shorter, homes can feel darker during afternoon and evening showings.
Before you leave, turn on the lights throughout the house—including lamps, basement lights and some of those areas you might normally leave dark.
Open the blinds and curtains too. You want buyers to see the home at its brightest.
3. Clean the Windows
This is an easy one to overlook.
After a summer of dust, bugs, fingerprints and everything else, windows can get pretty dirty. Clean glass lets more natural light into the house and can make the entire room feel brighter.
And if you have a great view of changing leaves, woods or acreage, you definitely want buyers to notice it.
4. Keep the Fall Décor Simple
A little seasonal decorating can make a home feel warm and inviting. Too much can become distracting.
A few pumpkins, a fall centerpiece or some simple decorations are plenty. Remember, you’re still trying to show off the house—not the decorations.
5. Give the House Some Fresh Air
One of the best things about fall is being able to open the windows again.
If the weather cooperates, crack a few windows before a showing and let some fresh air move through the house. This is especially helpful if you have pets, cook frequently or the house has been closed up for a while.
I’d take fresh, clean air over trying to cover everything up with a strong candle or air freshener any day.
6. Don’t Forget the Basement, Garage and Utility Areas
Buyers look at these spaces too.
You don’t need to make your garage look like a showroom, but organizing tools, boxes and equipment can help buyers understand how much space is actually there.
The same goes for the basement, furnace room and laundry area. Sweep the floors, clear pathways and make it easy for someone to see the mechanicals and storage areas.
7. Stay Ahead of the Leaves
This one becomes a full-time job in Michigan pretty quickly.
You don’t need every leaf removed from the property, but keeping the driveway, sidewalk, porch and main areas of the yard reasonably cleaned up makes a difference.
As we get later into fall, keep an eye on gutters and downspouts too. Buyers notice signs of deferred maintenance, and something as simple as overflowing gutters can raise questions that you don’t want them thinking about during a showing.
Keep It Simple
Getting a house ready for fall showings doesn’t mean making it perfect.
Clean it up, let in some light, make it smell fresh and take care of the little maintenance items that buyers are likely to notice.
Sometimes those simple things are what help a buyer walk in and immediately feel comfortable in the home.
If you’re thinking about selling this fall in Lapeer County, northern Oakland County or the surrounding area, Abby and I are always happy to take a look at the house and help you figure out what is actually worth doing before you put it on the market.