Home
sales
during
the
fall
are
traditionally
a
bit
slower
than
the
frenzied
spring
and
summer
months.
But
fall
can
be a
good
time
to
sell
because
there
are
(usually)
fewer
houses
on
the
market
-
meaning
less
competition
-
and
buyers
typically
want
to
buy
quickly
before
winter
and
the
holidays
set
in.
If
you
plan
on
selling
this
fall,
you'll
want
to
do
everything
in
your
power
to
attract
would-be
homebuyers.
One
of
the
first
things
you
should
do
is
examine,
and,
if
needed,
repair
any
major
structural
systems.
If
you're
unaware
of
any,
you
may
want
to
hire
a
professional
home
inspector.
Chances
are
a
potential
buyer
will
hire
an
inspector
to
examine
the
house,
so
you
might
as
well
save
yourself
any
surprises.
The
American
Society
of
Home
Inspectors
says
a
typical
home
inspection
includes
drainage
conditions,
exterior
surfaces,
decks,
chimney,
the
roof,
windows,
doors,
plumbing
fixtures,
furnace,
air
conditioner,
insulation,
ventilation,
electrical,
heating,
and
plumbing
systems.
Once
that's
done,
you
should
make
sure
you
don't
have
any
loose
shingles.
Repair
and
paint
your
gutters,
if
needed.
Once
the
structural
systems
are
repaired
or
given
the
thumbs-up,
then
you
should
turn
to
appearance.
And
when
it
comes
to
looks,
if
you're
selling
in
the
fall,
there
are
many
things
to
consider,
including:
Curb
appeal.
In
other
words,
the
way
your
house
looks
from
the
street
-
the
roof's
condition,
how
the
paint
is
holding
up,
whether
the
windows
are
sparkling,
the
lawn
is
mowed,
the
landscape
is
attractive
and
not
buried
beneath
a
peppering
of
fall
leaves,
and
the
driveway
and
walkways
are
free
from
toys
and
clutter.
Entering
the
house.
Your
front
door
should
be
in
good
condition.
Usually
when
the
real
estate
professional
is
busy
retrieving
the
key
from
the
lock
box,
the
potential
buyers
are
standing
by
with
nothing
else
to
look
at
but
the
front
door.
Does
it
need
painting
or
staining?
Also,
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new
hardware
will
make
it
stand
out,
and
why
not
adorn
it
with
a
seasonal
fall
wreath?
Once
inside
your
house,
the
two
things
that
immediately
turn
off
prospective
buyers
are
dingy
walls
and
dirty,
ill-colored,
outdated,
or
shabby
carpet.
Sometimes
it's
hard
to
be
objective
about
the
condition
of
your
own
house
because
you
see
it
every
day,
so
ask
a
friend,
neighbor,
or
your
real
estate
agent
to
give
it a
look
and
give
you
their
honest
opinion.
Fresh
paint
can
do
wonders.
Keep
the
colors
neutral.
And
while
you
can
offer
buyers
a
carpet
allowance
to
compensate
for
bad
carpet,
replacing
it
before
selling
really
boosts
that
first
impression
and
makes
the
house
more
appealing
and
worth
more
in
the
buyer's
mind.
Clear
the
clutter.
If
you
have
too
much
furniture,
put
some
of
it
in
storage.
Fewer
pieces
of
furniture
will
make
the
room
seem
larger
and
more
open.
Also,
clear
counters
in
the
kitchen
and
bathrooms.
Make
sure
closets
are
clean.
Pack
up
some
of
your
clothes
now.
Fewer
hanging
clothes
in
the
closet
will
make
the
closet
appear
bigger.
Talk
to
the
professionals.
Now's
also
a
good
time
to
interview
real
estate
professionals.
Ask
about
their
experience,
find
out
how
well
they
know
the
area
you're
eyeing,
and
talk
to
references.
Once
you
have
someone
lined
up
you
can
follow
his
or
her
additional
recommendations
and
begin
the
final
phases
of
preparation
before
your
house
goes
on
the
market.
Finally,
you
should
be
mindful
of
setting
a
competitive
price.
Your
REALTORŪ
will
begin
by
conducting
a
competitive
market
analysis
of
your
house
and
give
you
an
estimate
of
the
fair
market
value
of
your
home,
which
is a
range
that
will
fluctuate
depending
on
the
housing
market
in
your
area
and
how
much
similar
homes
in
your
neighborhood
are
selling
for.
Don't
insist
on
setting
the
price
too
high,
especially
if
you're
on a
timeline.
A
house
priced
appropriately
will
be
taken
more
seriously
and
will
ultimately
sell
more
quickly
than
one
that's
overpriced.
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