Selling your home in the fall can be just as lucrative as selling it during the spring market.

Before putting your home up for sale, think objectively about how buyers will perceive your home for its curb appeal and inside appearance. Upon reflection, you may not feel extensive improvements are needed, but addressing any major issues can yield you a higher sale price.

Use this guide to start the process of preparing your home to sell this season.

Make a statement

Aside from the list price, your home’s curb appeal is by far the most important criterion when selling. Regardless of the climate, fall may be the perfect time to flaunt the beauty of your home with all that the fall has to offer with its array of nature’s colors. Try to avoid adding too much seasonal decor as it can be distracting to a potential buyer.

Let the sunshine in

Light is extremely important when a buyer is looking at your home and can make or break a buyer’s first impression of your home’s interior. Ensure all the windows are clean, and shades and curtains are open in each room. If natural light is limited, add a lamp to the room to brighten it up. Also, as the fall sets in and the days are getting shorter, remember to illuminate your home by turning on the lights before a showing—it’s difficult to get the full picture in a dark home.

Clean like you mean it

The cleanliness of your home is a clear indicator to buyers of how well your home has been cared for. So go ahead, put a little elbow grease into cleaning your home—scrub the bathrooms and kitchen, wipe down all the walls, counters, cabinets, and doors, and vacuum or professionally clean the rugs to help make your home sparkle. Pet tip: Ensure all food, water bowls, and litter boxes are put away and spray air freshener to eliminate any pet odors. Also, your pets should either be absent during a showing or contained in a space where the buyers will not have to worry about any interaction with your pet. Not everyone likes animals, so you want to make sure that the buyers are not distracted and can take in all your home has to offer.

Put your home on stage

Decluttering and staging your home inside and out is equally important when putting your home on the market. It’s an effective marketing strategy to show off your home’s best features. Staging isn’t as much about decorating as it is about depersonalizing your home—remove pictures and other super personal items as buyers want to envision what life in your home would be like. This is the time to discard items that are no longer useful or lack sentimental value. Consider hiring a professional organizer if it’s too overwhelming for you to sift through and dispose of your stuff.

Price to sell

Pricing can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Be sure to ask your agent for a full report of all sales in the previous six months and the percentage increase or decrease of sale prices in the area so you can anticipate any changes ahead. Even though it’s still a seller’s market, buyers do not want to overpay for a house—bidding wars have taken a major downturn since July 2022, so don’t count on multiple over-asking price offers.

Be sure you continue to maintain your home’s appearance inside and out and are well prepared for showings. Always seek the advice of a real estate professional as they have the tools to help you navigate a successful sales process.