It’s hard to believe that we are in the full swing of autumn already. At Rooms With Style, we know that the fall season is still a great time of year to sell a home. The cooler temperatures and beautiful colors of fall are the perfect variables to create a cozy and inviting space for buyers to fall in love with. During this time of year, potential buyers will walk into a home and envision themselves settling down before the start of the winter season. We are excited to share some staging tips with you so that you can accept that offer before the holiday season is over.
START ON THE OUTSIDE
First impressions are SO important when selling a home. The more inviting you make the outside of your home, the more excited buyers will be to see the inside and imagine themselves living there. Keep your yard and landscaping beds neat and tidy. It’s just as important in this season as it is in the summer. Falling leaves have a sneaky way of piling up quickly, especially in the peak of the season. Plan to keep your yard clear of leaves, clean out rain gutters, wash windows, and power wash any areas of your patio, deck or siding that may need some extra TLC. Add color and visual interest to your front door and window boxes with mums, crotons, ornamental kale and other cool-weather flowers.
LET THE LIGHT IN
As the season marches on and the days get shorter, we have less and less daylight to work with. This can make the inside of your home look dark and drab. Before a showing, be sure to open all of the blinds and turn on all of the lights in your home to really make it shine. A brighter home will look bigger and more welcoming. Replace any light bulbs that are burnt out, making sure each fixture has matching bulbs of the same brightness or warmth. Add accent lighting wherever it is needed such as a floor lamp to a dark corner of a room or a table lamp on top of an accent table. Use battery operated puck lights for closets and the pantry. To your decor, incorporate LED candles. Candlelight adds cozy warmth to dining tables, coffee tables and nightstands.
KEEP HOLIDAY DECOR MINIMAL
When you’re getting ready to sell your home, part of the mindset shift is that you’re marketing your home for anybody (not decorating it for yourself anymore). Another key point of staging is neutralizing, which includes holiday decor. You don’t want to box yourself in to a specific buyer who loves Halloween just as much as you do. Nor do you want to date your photos to a certain holiday. If you can keep decor seasonal, versus focused on a specific holiday, it will feel more ready for it’s next family. For fall, we recommend classic decor in neutral or natural colors such as a magnolia leaf wreath on the front door, eucalyptus in a vase on the tabletop, or sleek decorative lanterns for a tabletop or fireplace hearth.
CREATE COZY WITH TEXTURE
As the weather turns colder, people spend more time inside their home. Using a variety of textures around your home that give nod to the season, is a great way to make your home feel more inviting and cozy. You can add texture around your whole house for minimal expense, which makes it a great way to improve your home to appeal to home buyers. Use throw pillow covers with texture and pattern such as a neutral plaid or herringbone. Choose fabrics with natural texture like loosely woven cotton, linen or velvet. Add a knit or woven throw blanket to an accent chair as well. Incorporate simple linens in the kitchen such as a table runner. Upgrade bathroom towels. Layer neutral blankets on beds.
Fall is such a beautiful season, and it’s a great time of year to sell a home. We hope these home staging tips will help you increase your home appeal, helping buyers to walk right and imagine themselves living there. For more home staging, home styling and design services, connect with us today!
Author: Marla Carlson, Rooms With Style Guest Blogger