Tips for Staging Your Home To Sell This Fall

Temperatures are finally cooling off here and we are once again reminded why we live in the great state of Arizona. It will be later in November before we feel a chill in the air but, the skies are clear and sunny and the feeling of fall is fairly easy to create regardless of the outdoor temperatures.

Autumn is my favorite time of year and there are still plenty of home buyers in our market. As a seller, you want to stage your home to feel especially warm and welcoming. This helps serious buyers choose your property over others they may see.

Focus on Your Strengths

A home for sale must make a great first impression and that always starts at the curb. When the residents of cold climates are clearing out their flower beds, we are replanting ours. Cleaning out your gardens and thatching summer grass are on the agenda in September and October to keep the outside of your home in top shape.

Add glorious displays of color in beds, pots and hanging baskets to enhance your exterior appeal. Touch up the exterior paint, wash the summer dust and grime off the windows and power wash the siding or stucco. Add some artificial pumpkins (they won’t rot), gourds and cabbages to a pot in the entry. Hang a seasonal wreath on the door. This look will work for almost three months, from mid-September through the end of November.

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In the backyard, make sure your pool is clean and sparkling. It’s best to put away the pool floats and inflatable water slides while showing your home. However, it’s fun to add fall-themed decor like warmer toned cushions on your patio furniture and a throw blanket on a chaise to create an atmosphere that is perfect for cooler evenings. If you have a fire pit, make sure it’s clean and in good condition. Evening showings are a wonderful opportunity to ignite them and show off our gorgeous Arizona sunsets by the firelight.

Bring the Colors Indoors

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One reason I love autumn is that the entire season is colorful, earthy and warm. Use some outside color and bring it indoors. A bouquet of flowers on the dining table, on bathroom counters or placed on a hallway table add natural accents to a room. Orange and yellow roses in a home-made pumpkin vase as created by Martha Stewart, or bright orange and purple asters make beautiful parings. In my house, I have my own hand-stitched autumn pillows and throw blankets, but you need not worry about trying to create these! Many home furnishings stores carry lovely and affordable, autumn-themed accent pillows and throws. A little goes a long way so don’t over-spendor over-decorate. A flavor of fall is what you’re after.

Emphasize Fall Scents and Flavors

The rich flavors and scents of cinnamon, apples, ginger, and nutmeg are all connected to autumn. Freshly baked apple pie cookies, or warm cinnamon rolls in the kitchen will stimulate the senses and make your buyers feel the welcoming comforts of your home. It might help them to imagine themselves baking Christmas treats with their family gathered around as well!

Add some festive autumn holiday accents to your property if it is on the market. I have a small vintage-themed Halloween tree I set up on a serving bar complete with heirloom glass ornaments and twinkling purple Halloween lights. Please don’t use anything scary, just charming and colorful accents, used sparingly, creating the right touch.

Less is More

When it comes to staging, less is always more. Keep your decorations small and to a minimum. Almost no one wants to buy the neighborhood’s Haunted House, regardless of how much fun you may think it may be. Overdoing your rooms with too many decorations, candles, and furnishings are distracting to potential home buyers. Keep in mind, for safety and security, store personal things away.

Fall themed homes can be extra charming and inviting. The key is to balance the season’s best features with the kind of home that buyers can easily see themselves living in year-round.