Autumn can be one of the best times of the year to go to market. People have returned from holiday, the kids are all back at school and house hunters are thinking about spending Christmas in their dream postcode.
You can help this most productive of seasons along by making sure your property looks at its very best and by making the most of the diminishing sunlight. Read on to get yourself primed for an autumnal house move.
Arrange viewings for daylight hours
This can be a tall order once the clocks go back, but try to fit as many early viewings as you can so that people can see to the bottom of your garden and into any darker recesses. If possible, have a weekend open-house viewing so that several prospective buyers can see your house in broad daylight at roughly the same time.
Clean your windows
You need as much light as you can, so clean your windows and don’t swap over to your heavy winter drapes just yet. Once you’re into November you can start to work the cosy angle, but put this off for as long as possible.
Tidy up the garden
If you’ve had a great summer of blooms, paddling pools and barbecues, your garden might look a little worse for wear. Prune, deadhead and mow as much as you can, then tidy away your patio furniture and the pool, as well as any other garden toys. If there are any yellowed patches on your lawn, give them time to re-green and re-seed any bare patches.
Use all of your indoor lights
As well as your outdoor ones! If you do have some evening viewings, then don’t despair, just make sure your house is as well-lit as possible – inside and out. Invest in some outdoor lighting for your garden, especially if it’s a great space for a party or family meal.
Air the place out before viewings
We tend to close windows and doors more during the colder months, which can lead to stale smells that you might not notice. If you know you have a viewing at, say, 1.00pm, open all the windows at 10.00am to air out the whole building. If it’s cold outside, shut them at 12.00pm and turn up the heating for the best of both worlds – fresh and warm air.
