Whilst Spring is the month sellers traditionally choose to put their homes on the market, there are a host of benefits to selling up in Autumn.
The lack of competition from other sellers combined with the looming Christmas deadline can be advantageous.
Terry Fisher at We Buy Any Home, said: “A lot of people choose to put their home on the market in spring, which means you’ll have less competition from other sellers in autumn.
“Potential buyers will often want to be settled before Christmas, so will be motivated to buy quickly, compared to the Spring when there is perhaps less pressure.
“Although the weather isn’t always perfect in autumn, the changing colours of trees can add kerb appeal that bare winter gardens don’t, and though days are getting shorter, there is more daylight to photograph and view the home.”
Here Fisher has offered some tips on what you can do to boost your home’s appeal to buyers.
‘Fix the icks’
Clutter, dirt, and smells are some of the top icks that put off potential buyers, revealed Fisher. A dirty bathroom and kitchen are the biggest repellents to buyers but evidence of pets – such as hair on the carpet or mess in the garden – can also be off putting.
“Make sure the house is clean and tidy, and free from smells like smoke and pets, to make it a more inviting space to potential buyers,” Fisher advised.
Get the light right
Shorter days mean it becomes more tricky to use natural light to show off your home at its best. Fisher suggests you take photographs of the property on a clear day, with plenty of natural light coming in.
“The soft, more diffused light of autumn can make the home feel warm and welcoming, which can be enhanced by using lamps and candles around the house during viewings,” he added.
…and make sure the price is right too
Aside from aesthetics, a fair asking price is one of the most important steps in selling a property quickly said Fisher.
“Feeling emotional about selling can tempt you to ask for how much you think your home and all the memories you have there is worth, rather than pricing it realistically,” he added.
So, the trick, he explained, is to think like a salesperson selling a property, rather than a homeowner selling the home you’ve lived in for years.
Overpriced homes take an average of 58 days longer to sell than houses with a realistic price.
“Buyers will be comparing the price to others in the area,” Fisher explained “so it’s important that you do the same.”
Make first impressions count
Picture the scene – there are two houses for sale on the same street, both identical inside but one has peeling paint on the front door, an overgrown front garden, and cracks in the exterior walls. It is clear the more presentable house will get a lot more attention from buyers.
“First impressions count,” said Fisher, “and the view from the kerb is the first thing buyers will see, whether that’s in person or online.
“Improving your kerb appeal will make the property look more inviting, well maintained, and valuable, and can help it stand out from other similar properties in the area.”
Think security
Burglaries often rise in winter, with shorter days meaning criminals have more hours of darkness to operate in.
A house that is more secure can be more appealing to buyers, and this is especially true when the days shorten and criminals have more hours of darkness in which to operate.
Fisher suggests getting security in place. This can range from buying CCTV cameras to making sure bushes in the garden are kept trimmed to reduce hiding places. Meanwhile, make sure there are no storage boxes in front of windows that can help burglars gain entry more easily.
As an added bonus, having a security system can also lower home insurance premiums.
Upgrade your boiler
With cold weather coming, an old inefficient boiler could be a deal breaker, said Fisher. “Potential buyers will be thinking about how much their energy bills will cost over the winter or be worried that it will break down as soon as they move in and be an additional expense that they weren’t planning for,” he explained.
“Upgrading your boiler could mean the difference between the house selling quickly and staying on the market until spring.”
