Beth Ganem

Autumn is in the air...

What does this mean to sellers? It means that it is time to think about curb appeal once again! Those fading summer flowers need to be trimmed back, replaced with a burst of fall color in the form of brilliantly colored mums. Gardens should be cleaned up and mulched and shrubbery trimmed. This is a good time to talk a walk up your own front walk and see what Realtors and their clients are seeing as they approach your home. Be sure that while they wait for their agent to open the front door that the front trim and entrance shout well maintained home! A clean welcome mat also projects the right image. If you have a brass door knocker be sure that it gleams and windows shine in the fading fall light.

As the daylight fades earlier it is important that the interior looks and feels warm and cheery. Be sure the lights are on and the home welcoming. The scent of apples and spices will draw them in. This is easily done put a pie plate of apples and spices in the oven and turn on low for a few minutes and then turn it off and leave them in the oven.

Make sure the house is clean and dusted... it is the season of haunted homes but you don't want yours to look scary. Get rid of any cobwebs inside or out.

While you are taking a fresh look around this is a good time to reassess the flow as one walks through the house. Make sure that the furniture doesn't block a nice flow and that as we change seasons there isn't too much summer and fall stuff in the way.

Fall is a great time for charity sales. If you haven't already done so clear out those items that you don't want to move. The less clutter and stuff the better the house will show. As you remove items be sure you clean where they may have been. Take extra care in the basement in garage which should be washed down and perhaps freshened up with some new sealer or paint.

Now is also a good time to go through your closets. If there is clothing that you haven't worn in years this is a good time to clear some of it out. Once this is done, reorganize. You will be amazed at how much more abundant storage space appears and how much more inviting. You should also consider removing seasonal items and storing them elsewhere to free up space. Lack of storage space is an inadequacy that many buyers will not overlook.

Remember.in most areas the real estate market slows between Thanksgiving and New Year's so this is the time to make every showing count so you don't have to wait for the Spring market. If your house isn't on the market but you do want to sell next year this is a great time to call a Realtor. They can give you assistance in deciding what should be done prior to putting your home on the market and perhaps taking a few exterior photos while the outside is green. These will be invaluable when you decide to list your home before the snow melts in the spring.

Leverage your property sale...

Tucker suddenly stopped to gaze at the panoramic view of Ithaca. He knew that homeowners needed a New Perspective on positioning their properties for sale! The sales data that he and Realtor Beth had meticulously analyzed sent a clear message.. Presentation, Pricing and Target Marketing were the keys to selling a home for the highest price, in the shortest time and with the least hassle. And while Tucker didn't understand how detailed marketing plans translated into a SOLD signs, he did know that every home has a story and that Realtor Beth could expertly tell it.. So he hurried back to the office knowing now was the time to assist sellers in gathering the photos, planning repairs, staging and more.to be ready to sell now or in the Spring!. Summer was almost over and it was going to be a Fall, Winter and Spring of Successful Sales for those who planned ahead. The End.