One of the most important aspects of selling a home is curb appeal. You want to catch the eye of your potential buyer before they even get out of the car. After working hard all summer, fall is not the time to let your lawn and garden lack color and design. In fact, fall can be one of the most beautiful times of the year to make the outside of your home warm and inviting. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Lawn Care
In the south you can have a green lawn throughout the fall. Be sure to fertilize according to your region and keep your grass mowed and well-trimmed. Keep up with the falling leaves by raking regularly. An unkempt yard will detract the buyer from any decoration you have placed outside the house.
Entryway
Add interest to your front door by painting it with a lovely autumn color in shades of pumpkin, cranberry, chestnut or dark green. A wreath made of fall leaves and berries is a beautiful accent. Using silk flowers and artificial berries insures a fresh look all through the fall, but fresh greenery and flowers is always a nice touch. Indian corn is another popular ornament. Use it as an accent in a wreath or gather a bunch with a wide ribbon and hang it on the front door.
Garden
Clean out any faded or wilted summer plants and replace them with fall flowers such as mums. Mums are a traditional fall plant that add pops of color while fall kale and ornamental grasses make for an easy care garden. Also consider asters, pansies or black-eyed Susan for another fall variation.
Entryway
The entryway can be filled with all kinds of special fall items. Pumpkins are popular, but don’t just plunk a pumpkin on your step or porch. Write some words of welcome, your family name or your house number with a permanent marker or acrylic craft paint. Baskets or bowls filled with gourds and fall greenery also add a welcoming touch.
These are just a few examples to get you started in thinking about how to transition your home’s curb appeal from summer to fall. Keep your designs classic and simple with spots of color and try to avoid tacky Halloween decorations. There are many websites with more ideas to make your home and yard attractive, improving the likelihood that a buyer will also be interested in seeing the inside of your home.
