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It’s hard to believe that fall is already upon us. Summer may be over, but now is not the time to neglect a home’s exterior, especially if it’s going to soon be listed for-sale this season. Here are a few tips to help you embrace the fall season and keep your property looking its best:
· The most obvious tip: rake up leaves on a frequent basis;
· Inspect your gutters regularly and remove any leaves that get trapped;
· Carry on weeding garden beds and walkways;
· Remove all annual flowers that are no longer blooming and plants that are past their “best before” date. Dead vegetation gives the impression of a home not cared for;
· If you’re experiencing a warm, dry fall in your area, you’ll still need to irrigate your lawn (according to local by-laws of course);
· Fertilize your lawn before the ground freezes (unless you’re lucky enough to live in a year-round warm climate). This will give your grass a head start in the spring. However, check with your local garden center first to find out if this is the right course of action for your particular environment;
· Readjust the timers on outdoor lighting displays since it now gets dark earlier;
· Give your gardens some liveliness by planting fall flowers such as chrysanthemums. Choose a color that compliments the exterior of your home;
· Redesign your urns and flowers pots – it’s time for a fall theme;
· Add some vignettes. Sometimes, it’s the little things that produce the most attention. My personal favorite for generating anticipation in potential buyers is to create a simple fall vignette on the porch. Pumpkins add a punch of color and provide a warm, welcoming look when blended with something interesting like a couple of antique lanterns, for example. Be careful not to add too many items to the vignette or it will appear too cluttered.
If there’s a swing or rocking chair on the porch, add cushions with a generous amount of orange in them to tie everything together. If you pay this much attention to the exterior of your home, buyers will be anxious to see what awaits them behind the front door. The photo above was taken at the side door of a property that was never used as an entry point. Be sure when creating your vignette that you don’t block access to the front door.
These are just a few things that will help keep the exterior of your home looking terrific right through to the next season: The dreaded winter. We won’t think about that right now though!
Have I missed anything? Feel free to add your fall tips to the list!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Charlene Storozuk is the owner of Dezigner Digz, a professional home staging and interior decorating company based in Burlington, Ontario. Her work is featured in the book FabJob Guide To Become A Home Stager, 2009 edition. Sheserves as regional vice-president, Canada for the Real Estate Staging Association and is a past recipient of the North American Leadership Award for her work as founder and president of the Halton & Hamilton-Wentworth RESA Chapter.
