Century 21 Newsletter Life @ Home Newsletter October 2023 (Sellers)

This cool-season checklist will make buyers “fall” for your home

Spring and summer are the traditional prime times for home sales, but autumn can be a great
opportunity to put your home’s beauty and warmth on display. Here are some tips for staging to
entice buyers to “fall” for your home.

– Photograph your home at the peak of fall color
Does your yard or neighborhood come to life in the fall? Does your street have a canopy of
trees? Take advantage of all of that natural beauty and photograph your home and
neighborhood during the peak of fall color. (Hint: It’s a great idea to do this even if you’re
planning to sell next winter, spring or summer.)

– Tune up your furnace
You want your home to be cozy and warm on chilly fall days when you have showings. Call your
HVAC pro for a maintenance visit so you won’t get any unwelcome surprises when you turn up
the thermostat for the first time of the year.

– Clean the chimney
A working, wood-burning fireplace is a huge asset when selling a home. Show it off with a
crackling fire! But before you do, call your chimney sweep to do a thorough cleaning. And make
sure you have a cap on the chimney.

– Fall aromas and décor
Elevate your autumn curb appeal with pumpkins on the front steps, pots of yellow, red and
orange mums, or a wreath of fall leaves on the door. Inside, simmer a pot of cinnamon or a
fragrant potpourri to fill your home with fall aromas. One tip: Skip Halloween decorations. You
want your home to be inviting, not scary!

– Wash your windows
This is Home Seller 101 for any time of the year, but it’s especially important in the fall, when
light can be fleeting. You want those windows sparkling clean to let the sun shine in. Don’t forget to take off the screens and clean them, too.

Home ownership 101: Fall maintenance tasks you shouldn’t skip

Fall is an opportune time to winterize the landscape and home – and maybe even
squeeze in a few cosmetic upgrades that will lift your mood.

Assess your doors and windows
Did you have sticker shock at your energy bill last winter? Air leaks around your doors and
windows might be the cause. An afternoon of weather stripping around doors and windows will
reduce drafts and could save you up to 20% on your energy bill.

Schedule a furnace tune-up
You want your home to be cozy and warm when the temperature dips. Head off any surprises
by scheduling an HVAC tuneup early in the fall. Having a pro check for wear and tear, replace
the filter and otherwise tuneup your furnace will ensure it’s in working order when you need it.
Ditto for your fireplace — call a chimney sweep to do a cleaning before you burn your first fire.

Give your home a safety check
Take an hour on a chilly fall day and replace all of the batteries in your smoke and carbon
monoxide detectors, and test the units to make sure they are in working order. These should be
on every floor of your home, so if they aren’t, now is the time to install them. Also, do you have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen? Now’s a great time to get one and tuck it in the pantry.

Clean your gutters
Nobody likes this task, but it is vital! Not doing so risks damage to your exterior and even your
basement if this drainage system is clogged. Get a jump on it early before the leaves start to
fall, and install mesh gutter guards to save yourself (and your home) the trouble next year.

Make sure your lawn is winter ready
Rake those leaves early and often! Aerate your lawn and gardens. Fertilize grass, trees and
shrubs and do any pruning before winter sets in. All of this can seem confusing to homeowners
who don’t have green thumbs. An afternoon of professional lawn care may be worth the
investment.

Plant spring bloomers
Warm fall days are the perfect time to plant your spring blooms! Plant bulbs like tulips, daffodils and hyacinths to jump start your spring garden. It’s also a great time to plant trees or shrubs, or divide those hostas that are threatening to take over. Cover your plantings with a nice bed of mulch or leaves to protect them from the winter chill.

Get ahead of these winter blues with these home brightening tips

Daylight Saving Time ends Nov. 5. Here are 5 tips to get more light into your life:

● Use a light therapy lamp
● Emphasize natural lighting
● Clean windows and screens
● Set smart light timers for warm arrivals
● Freshen indoor paint for a kick of color

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