Curb appeal influences buyers more than you may realize.  In fact, prior to showing some properties, we suggest that our clients drive through the neighborhoods and look at the outward appearance of the houses before we view the properties.  You would be surprised at how many houses are removed from the showing appointment list based on curb appeal alone!

   With that in mind, we have some SMART tips for our sellers that will strengthen your house’s curb appeal in this fall season.


1.  Maintain your lawn. While fall foliage brings images of bonfires, S’mores, cozy sweaters and leaves blowing in the wind, scattered leaves in a yard look like, well, dead leaves.  Don’t allow this to happen to you!  Rake frequently and tend to any brown patches in your grass.

2.  Add some fall flowers.  After you’ve cleaned up your yard a bit, clean up some of your fading summer plants and add some vibrant colors by planting hardy mums or colorful pansies.  Both endure the cooling temperatures while adding warmth and a welcoming appearance to your home.

3.  Decorate the front door.  Nothing spells “Welcome” more clearly than a tasteful  wreath full of fall foliage and flowers.  This automatically draws the eye to the center of the house and invites the buyers to enter.  Want to make your entryway stand out even more?  Add a fresh coat of red paint to further draw attention to your door.

4.  Pay attention to your home’s exterior.  As winter draws nearer, everything becomes more exposed--including your house.  Address this before it happens by pressure washing the exterior and cleaning all of the windows.  Also, don’t underestimate the value of a fresh coat of paint on faded or worn out surfaces.

5.  Clean out your gutters.  This will prevent any water damage from occurring due to blocked gutters or downspouts.  In a buyer’s mind, clean gutters are equivalent to a well-maintained house.  This makes a house VERY appealing.  

6.  Lighten up!  The days are getting shorter, and potential buyers need a safe path to your door.  Leave your outdoor lights on, and add some decorative lights to illuminate the walkways.  Flood lights and lanterns around the doorway also brighten up entrance areas.

7.  Decorate (but don’t overdo it!).  You may have the scariest Halloween decorations or the cutest scarecrow, but now may not be the time to display them.  Instead, opt for small pots of fall flowers or wreaths of fall foliage.  You don’t want to distract your buyer with all of your decor.  

We hope these suggestions help you to create a curb appeal that will make a buyer instantly “fall” in love with your house!

Committed to helping you Buy. Sell. Live. SMART!

Seth & Alyce

P.S.  Want some other SMART home selling tips?  Give us a call.  We’d love to serve you!

P.P.S.  We'd also love to hear from some of our buyers!  What are some things you've seen sellers do that have added curb appeal to their house as you've viewed their property?