With August almost over, September is just around the corner, and I can almost smell the Pumpkin Spiced Latte’s being brewed…

While the summer real estate market is winding down here are 5 ways to get your home ready for fall.

1. Be strategic with your timing

With kids back in school and markets turning over new quarters, the fall real estate season can bring in a more serious sales pool.

This is due to the fact that not only are kids back to school, but parents are back to business. Vacations are over and it’s back to work.

With fall listings being fewer than the traditional spring market, the fall season marks an opportunity for your home listing to really shine due to less competition. In a sparser inventory environment, your listing can be front row and center.

2. Improve your curb appeal

It’s an obvious one but it’s important to be noted that with less competition your home will be more carefully studied.

Which means this is a great opportunity to clean up any debris in the yard, think about painting doors, shutters and garages.

Use some of these last lazy days of summer for outdoor maintenance so that you don’t have to tackle it all in September.

3. Landscaping and outdoor décor add value

Invest in high-quality landscape design and maintenance and add outdoor furniture and décor pieces for instant wow-factor.

4. Have a market analysis done

As with every market, getting a report of what homes have sold in your area will give you a more strategic advantage.

An experienced real estate professional like myself will be able to provide you with this important data based on your home and neighbourhood – from price to days on the market.

This analysis will make sure that the price of your home is competitive and attractive.

5. Have indoor maintenance and repairs done

For any large appliances or home heating and air conditioning systems, have an inspection done to assess if any repairs are required.

For example, heating and cooling professionals recommend that you have your systems inspected and cleaned yearly.

Since your furnace runs predominantly in winter, make sure there haven’t been any problems with it so it’s ready to be switched on when it’s needed.

In fact, in many cases, it’s common for the buyer to ask (or even expect) a seller to have the maintenance inspections done and system units cleaned prior to closing.

Prepare your home for the fall real estate market by being proactive now. Make sure you’re backed by the best in the business to get you into your next dream home.

If you’re interested in getting into the real estate market to buy or sell — let’s talk today.