The fall home buying and selling season starts soon

When it comes to real estate, the summer home-buying season is the busiest, with many families wanting to be settled in their new homes before school starts. This year, however, home buying and selling activity is expected to remain strong through the last quarter of the year.

If you’re thinking of selling your home in late summer or early fall, know that there likely will be a smaller group of potential buyers than there were in June and July. However, those purchasing homes in the fall are often more serious, which can more than make up for the paucity of potential buyers.

Before you put your home on the market, make sure your property is clean and tidy. If you have trees that lose their leaves, keep up with the raking. Ideally, there will be no leaves on the ground or dead or dormant plants when a prospective buyer comes by. If it’s still warm enough to use patio furniture, make sure they are still in good condition and clean. Another option would be to put any outdoor items in storage.

If you have already moved out of your home, make sure you keep your thermostat at a pleasant temperature. No one wants to be too hot or too cold while touring a home. Also, make sure your home has adequate lighting and if your home is shown in the late afternoon or evening that lights are used. Timers are an easy solution.

Lastly, keep seasonal decorations to a minimum. A bit of fall decor here and there is fine, but avoid 20 pumpkins by your front door or a Halloween skeleton hanging from the front porch.