Autumn is a season of transformation, making it a popular time for people to make big changes. Therefore, if you’ve caught yourself thinking about selling your home this autumn, you’re probably not alone.
In such a competitive market how do you ensure your home stands out? Well, that’s where we come in. Discover the difference you can make to your property. The following guide contains some simple steps to selling a house during the autumn season.
Is autumn the right time to sell my house?
Before we dive into the individual steps homeowners can take to sell their house in autumn, it’s worth highlighting why autumn can be an ideal time to sell. It’s a season that offers plenty of hidden advantages compared to more typical selling seasons, such as spring.
All seasons have their benefits, but listing your home on the market in autumn is considered a smart idea for a number of reasons. By the time March arrives, most people are back at work and kids back in their school routine. With less distractions, those ready to move can focus on house-hunting.
Many sellers aren’t aware of the benefits of listing in autumn, this guide will aim to change that.
With the right strategy, any time of the year can be a good time to list your home for sale. Remember, your local LJ Hooker agent is a suburb expert who can provide insights into your area’s property market and ensure you experience the LJ Hooker difference when it comes to appraising and selling your home.
Steps to selling a house in autumn
1. Create autumn curb appeal
First impressions matter. When selling a house, curb appeal is critical, and autumn gives you a fantastic colour palette to work with.
Presentation is important regardless of when you list your home for sale, but if you live in a leafy area, you may find autumn requires a little more work than usual.
This is particularly true if you have a lot of trees in your garden. Foliage in shades of amber and gold can charm potential buyers. On the downside, big piles of fallen leaves may make your property look like hard work, so have your rake handy and keep your lawn tidy.
Potential buyers often drive past a property before they come in for an inspection to see if it is worth their time. As mentioned before, first impressions matter, and this starts at the curb.
- Water blast or high pressure hose the path out the front of the property and along the entryway.
- Paint the fence. It’s amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do.
- Tidy up the front garden. Keep it neat and trim, weed your garden beds, remove dead plants, mow the lawn.
- Remove fallen leaves. If you have an excessive amount of fallen leaves in your front garden, rake these up, as leaving big piles can make the home feel unloved.
- Ensure windows and doors are free from grime and dirt
2. Check gutters and drainage
If you are surrounded by trees, you know that autumn is the time of year that gutters start to get clogged with dead leaves. Buyers do not want to see a roof line overflowing with debris as it gives the impression the home is not well maintained.
It is a good idea to hire a professional to help clean the gutters and make sure there are no drainage issues. As autumn can bring heavy rain, you do not want to be dealing with damp or mould issues during open homes
3. Focus on functional repairs
Buyers often focus more closely on practical home features during autumn. Before hosting your first open house, here are a few tasks to take care of:
- Get your roof checked. For a small up front cost that can add plenty of value to your property, hiring a professional roofer to thoroughly examine your roof is a must when looking to sell your house in autumn. Serious buyers will organise for a property inspection to be carried out and if the report highlights issues with the roof, it is likely to turn them off.
- Bring the heat. Make sure your home feels warm and inviting when buyers are inspecting it. Whether you have a traditional fireplace, a gas heater or a different internal heating method, make sure it works and is ready to use.
- Ready your kitchen. The kitchen is the beating heart of every home. Make sure all appliances are clean and working.
4. Better garden, better home
Don’t judge a book by its cover, but do judge a home by its garden. Remove any dead or dying plants and replace them with fresh flowering autumn plants. Trim large bushes and shrubs for a cleaner look.
If you own a pool, make sure it's sparkling. This is often a drawcard to any property, so ensure it is not clogged with fallen autumn leaves. Overgrown lawns and unkempt pools are not the way to sell your home during autumn.
5. Let there be light
As the days get shorter you will need to rely on your internal lights to create a feeling of light and space.
Pull back blinds, open the shutters and ensure all curtains are open. Turn on lights where needed in the house, including table lamps.
Change any old bulbs and make sure every light in the house is working and shining bright. No flickering.
6. Embrace the season
Autumn is a popular and aesthetic season, so embrace it. You can add subtle autumn reminders around your home to make it more inviting.
If your home has a fireplace, having a low burning fire during the open home can help to create an inviting and cosy atmosphere. Potential buyers will envisage themselves lounging by the fire after a long day.
Styling your dining room table with small vases of autumn-coloured flowers can help create the right ambience. Add some seasonal must-have accessories such as chunky throws, some warm toned cushions in heavier wintry material and scented candles. These touches will all help to make your home feel more inviting and in theme with the season.
Ultimately, it’s always the right season to sell your home with LJ Hooker, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of autumn when it rolls around.
DISCLAIMER - The information provided is for guidance and informational purposes only and does not replace independent business, legal and financial advice which we strongly recommend. Whilst the information is considered true and correct at the date of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact the accuracy of the information provided. LJ Hooker will not accept responsibility or liability for any reliance on the blog information, including but not limited to, the accuracy, currency or completeness of any information or links.
