25 Sep 2024
A Comprehensive Guide On Preparing Your Home For A Fall Open House
Fall is an important season for real estate in Vancouver, as serious buyers are on the lookout to close before the holiday season or end of year. With this in mind, here’s how to prepare your home to take advantage of this motivated market:
Make maintenance your priority
Getting your home in an optimum state is important before you embark on the aesthetics and other items. The gutters should be free of debris and there should be no water leaks around the house, especially since fall is a rainy season. If there are any minor repairs required, now is the time to do them.
Paint areas around the property that need it, a fresh coat of paint on the front porch and door demonstrates care and attention to potential buyers.
Upkeep the garden and yard
Your grass should be cut, hedges and trees trimmed, while keeping an eye open for branches that may fall during the windy days. Leaves should be raked, and pathways cleared from moss and debris, giving your home’s exterior a neat and tidy appearance.
Fall planters with seasonal flowers create a welcoming first appearance.
Stage your home for the fall season
Create a warm inviting environment, especially in the living room, where a potential buyer can visualize spending cozy fall evenings. If you have a fireplace, consider keeping it on to add a warm and inviting ambience. Removing clutter from the rooms allows the prospective tenants to get a better view of the interior of the property, and make the rooms look bigger.
Light the home properly
As the days get shorter and there are longer periods of darkness, good lighting is important. Allow natural light to penetrate the rooms, by opening the curtains or drawing the blinds to make the room feel large and open.
Create a perfect combination of ceiling lights and floor and table lamps, especially in the living areas to make your home look warm and inviting. Make sure that all the exterior lighting is working to highlight the exterior of your property.
Be mindful of the temperature
The home should not be too warm or too cool – it should be warm and cozy. Homes that are too cool or too warm can be uncomfortable to stay in. Usually, the more time the potential buyer spends in the home looking around, the more he or she will like it.
If the home has a fireplace, make sure it is on as flickering flames provide a very soothing ambience. It should not emit more heat than necessary.
Prepare for the weather
Vancouver’s fall weather can be unpredictable, with rain showers being a common occurrence. Provide umbrellas or a sheltered area at the entrance to keep potential buyers dry as they arrive. Place mats at the entrance for wiping feet and consider providing boot covers to keep the interior clean.
Leverage energy efficiency
If your property has any energy efficiency features, they should be highlighted. Features such as smart thermostats, double glazed windows, high efficiency furnaces and appliances will be a positive selling point as Vancouverites often appreciate homes that can handle the regions cool and damp winters effectively and efficiently.
Vancouver has a competitive fall real estate market. Contact us to price your property competitively and schedule your open houses strategically to attract the most traffic.
Make maintenance your priority
Getting your home in an optimum state is important before you embark on the aesthetics and other items. The gutters should be free of debris and there should be no water leaks around the house, especially since fall is a rainy season. If there are any minor repairs required, now is the time to do them.
Paint areas around the property that need it, a fresh coat of paint on the front porch and door demonstrates care and attention to potential buyers.
Upkeep the garden and yard
Your grass should be cut, hedges and trees trimmed, while keeping an eye open for branches that may fall during the windy days. Leaves should be raked, and pathways cleared from moss and debris, giving your home’s exterior a neat and tidy appearance.
Fall planters with seasonal flowers create a welcoming first appearance.
Stage your home for the fall season
Create a warm inviting environment, especially in the living room, where a potential buyer can visualize spending cozy fall evenings. If you have a fireplace, consider keeping it on to add a warm and inviting ambience. Removing clutter from the rooms allows the prospective tenants to get a better view of the interior of the property, and make the rooms look bigger.
Light the home properly
As the days get shorter and there are longer periods of darkness, good lighting is important. Allow natural light to penetrate the rooms, by opening the curtains or drawing the blinds to make the room feel large and open.
Create a perfect combination of ceiling lights and floor and table lamps, especially in the living areas to make your home look warm and inviting. Make sure that all the exterior lighting is working to highlight the exterior of your property.
Be mindful of the temperature
The home should not be too warm or too cool – it should be warm and cozy. Homes that are too cool or too warm can be uncomfortable to stay in. Usually, the more time the potential buyer spends in the home looking around, the more he or she will like it.
If the home has a fireplace, make sure it is on as flickering flames provide a very soothing ambience. It should not emit more heat than necessary.
Prepare for the weather
Vancouver’s fall weather can be unpredictable, with rain showers being a common occurrence. Provide umbrellas or a sheltered area at the entrance to keep potential buyers dry as they arrive. Place mats at the entrance for wiping feet and consider providing boot covers to keep the interior clean.
Leverage energy efficiency
If your property has any energy efficiency features, they should be highlighted. Features such as smart thermostats, double glazed windows, high efficiency furnaces and appliances will be a positive selling point as Vancouverites often appreciate homes that can handle the regions cool and damp winters effectively and efficiently.
Vancouver has a competitive fall real estate market. Contact us to price your property competitively and schedule your open houses strategically to attract the most traffic.