A Few Things To Keep In Mind If You Decide To Sell Your Home This Fall

Conventional wisdom has it that the spring is the best time to put a house on the market for sale. That is typically when the most buyers are actively looking to buy a home and when inventory is generally the highest. But life has a way of dictating to us when we need to buy or sell a home.  For all kinds of reasons such as births, deaths, job changes and divorces, people need to move throughout the year.  Here are a few things to keep in mind if you decide to put your home on the market for sale in the Fall.     

One thing is for sure, no matter the circumstances, price is critical. Pricing your house right for your market is always essential but if you plan to sell your home in the Fall market you have to be extra vigilant about pricing it right.

The season for selling a home in the Fall is only a few months long. If you list your house in early September you can count on having an active market of buyers for about 2-3 months. By early to mid November people start to shift their focus to the holidays and the number of active buyers will dwindle further. So you want to make sure you don’t waste time pricing your house higher than it should be priced. With a longer time frame in the spring you can afford to “test” the
market with a stretch price and then readjust as needed. In the fall, if you
really want to sell, you don’t have that luxury.

It is important to look at your competition and understand realistically your home’s assets and shortcomings in comparison to the marketplace. Make sure your home offers the best value in your price range in order to attract a buyer quickly. By the Fall it is safe to assume that many of the buyers out there have been looking for a while and are familiar with the marketplace. Unlike in a Spring market where many buyers may just be beginning their search and expect to be in competition with many other buyers, chances are the Fall buyer has been looking online and working with a realtor for several months. They know the competition and will know how your home stacks up to others that have sold in your neighborhood. Make sure it compares favorably.

They know there aren’t as many buyers out there and are looking for a deal. Don’t be offended if you get a “low ball” offer. You should always counter. You want to take advantage of a willing buyer’s interest and see if you can negotiate up to a price you think is reasonable.

As always, you should make sure your house is in the best possible condition. Walk around with a Realtor several weeks to a month in advance of listing if possible to allow for time needed to make any repairs.

Depending on where you live you may want to have photographs taken of your  during the summer when the garden is in full bloom and when the pool, if you have one, is open and the outdoor furniture is out. These photos can be used in brochures and online to help buyers fully appreciate the beauty of your property. Have you ever bought a home in the dead of winter and had no idea what surprises you will find once the snow thaws? That is a leap of faith that a buyer doesn’t have to make if you are prepared.

Real Estate is a year round business but being mindful of some of these conditions when selling in the Fall will help you be successful. And that will be one huge source of stress to take off your plate!

Nancie K. Schwarzman, GRI
nschwarzman@prudentialct.com
Chairman's Circle Gold,
Prudential Connecticut Realty