How to Ace Your Autumn Home Sale

If the real estate seasons were in a high school movie, the summer months would be the cool clique. It’s the season when activity typically peaks, sometimes reaching feverish levels of demand and supply.

However, some real estate experts prefer the fall for selling. Listing your home in autumn can help you stand tall among less competition since there are fewer new listings (and the ones held over from the summer are usually undesirable in some way). It can help you capitalize on corporate relocations, which tend to happen directly after summer. And it can help you tap into a more motivated buyer pool—cutting through the droves of on-the-fence “buyers” who casually attend viewings.

If you’re selling in the fall, it’s helpful to approach the process with some aces up your sleeve. This article explores a few tips to maximize your chances of selling fast and above asking.

As the Market Slows, Find Realtors with a Wide Reach

Quality, experienced realtors are essential year-round but are doubly beneficial in the fall. As the market slows, you need a real estate company with a wide reach. They need to leverage multiple channels, a vast network of leads, and an international presence to get your listing before enough eyeballs. This is the single most critical factor in drumming up interest during the shoulder season.

Every city has that one real estate company head and shoulders above the others, and it’s your job to seek them out. In Toronto, for instance, that company is clearly Harvey Kalles Real Estate, as evidenced by the stats on their site. Find out the equivalent for your area, and give them a ring.

Less Light, No Problem: Time Your Real Estate Pictures Accordingly

As the days shorten, so does the window for taking great photos. Likewise, overcast and gray days can lend a flatness to real estate pictures.

When arranging a photography session for your listing, choose a time and date that maximizes sunlight. Look at the short-term forecast and daily sunset hours, avoiding cloudy or dark times. Your realtor and photographer should already understand these principles, but it’s never a bad idea to remind them.

In a similar vein, maximize lighting during showings to give prospective buyers a bright experience. Open the windows, turn on all the lights, and—if possible—arrange showings for times that best suit your home’s orientation.

Lean into the Season (But Not Too Far in)

Go ahead and celebrate the season. Adding some tasteful fall accents—like centrepiece foliage or seasonal gourds—helps you capitalize on the excitement around autumn while giving your property a warm, rustic feel.

However, it’s best not to go overboard. Don’t deck the house in oranges and yellows, which can read as gimmicky to some buyers.

Pay Special Attention to Curb Appeal

As the trees shed their leaves, your front yard can quickly become a mess. A few fallen leaves are fine (as mentioned above, subtle indications of seasonality are a feature, not a bug). However, stay on top of yard work to ensure the mess isn’t unruly or distracting.

Meanwhile, consider planting some fall-blooming flowers to lend visual interest to the front yard. Research shows that properties with high curb appeal often sell faster and for more than their untended counterparts.

Selling in the fall is a potent opportunity to stand out from the crowd and attract motivated buyers. Follow the straightforward tips above for the best shot at success.