Photo by Randy Fath on Unsplash
Although spring and summer are real estate’s busiest selling seasons, don’t think you have to give up your plans to sell until next year after the Labor Day weekend. While conventional wisdom may indicate you should wait, September to December might be the right time to sell your home. Although families typically settle in for the school year, buyers without children may be more motivated than ever to make a purchase. So the real question is, how do you attract those buyers?
When marketing your home during the fall and winter seasons, you can’t afford to let maintenance slip. Since green lawns give way to brown and leaves fall off the trees, your home’s curb appeal relies more on your efforts. Buyers notice exterior issues more easily, so take care that your sprinkler systems, paint and trim, window screens, gutters, and downspouts are all in outstanding shape.
Make special note of these:
Put away outdoor furniture that you’re not using and store your barbecue and lawn toys. If you have a portable above-ground pool drain and dismantle it for storage. Keep leaves and detritus out of inground pools and add a protective cover. Add some color to your porch with pots of fall flowers like carnations, mums, alstroemeria, pansies, or marigolds.
Wait to prune the trees and shrubs until late winter, just before they begin to grow in the spring. For best results, speak to a nursery or arborist about the best way to prepare them for the chilly weather. Protecting their roots with colorful fresh mulch also brightens up your flowerbeds and tree-bases.
Keep leaves raked and bagged. Avoid leaving them in piles on your lawn since an errant wind can blow debris around, reducing your curb appeal. If you can, mulch the leaves into the lawn as you mow so that they decompose and nourish the grass through the season. Check with your municipality or waste utility about the disposal of leaf bags so that they do not pile up around your yard.
After the weather cools and you no longer need to water, drain your sprinkler system so that the inground pipes do not freeze or break. Older homes rarely have frost-proof exterior faucets, so use a shut-off valve to clear out moisture. Drain and roll up hoses and store them in the garage.
Check your gutters for backed up debris and leaves, and for sagging sections. Also, examine the downspouts to make sure they are not dented and that they divert water away from your home’s foundation.
If your roof has missing shingles or damage, it will show up more after the nearby trees shed their leaves. Have a roofing contractor inspect your shingles and replace any that are missing. If your home was subject to a hailstorm, contact your homeowner’s insurance to see if it can be repaired or replaced under your policy. Doing so increases the value of your home.
When you plan to have your house on the real estate market after Labor Day, follow the advice of your real estate professional.
