Extra Touches to Help Sell This Fall

Homes can look less inviting in the fall and cooler months, but there are easy ways you can evoke that “homey” feel buyers crave. 

"Inventory is low, so if you have your house on the market and it's priced well, it's going to sell," says Gail Hartnett, a National Association of REALTORS® regional vice president and an agent with Keller Williams Realty Boise in Idaho.

Hartnett offers some of the following tips: 

--Creating a cozy smell. Hartnett says that fall can channel warm childhood memories of family Thanksgiving dinners. To give the home a more “homey” fall charm, Hartnett has spiced cider and freshly baked cookies during showings and open houses. 

--Tidy up the yard. Rake up large piles of leaves, but you don’t have to remove every single leaf from your yard, Hartnett says. "Leaves actually look nice as long as they have some color to them," Harnett says. "But you need to make sure that your walkways are swept clear for safety purposes."

--Put up seasonal decorations. Give the property an appealing “harvest” feel with fall-themed decorations, such as a seasonal wreath hanging on the door and pumpkins or pots of mums on the front porch.