Selling your house this fall is absolutely doable. But there’s something you need to know about this time of year.
Buyer activity typically starts to slow while the number of homes for sale climb – and you need the right strategy to get attention in this type of market.
The good news? There’s a lot you can control.
From how you price and present your house to how you negotiate and respond to feedback. Here are four things you’ll want to get right this fall.
#1: Price To Get Buyers’ Attention
In the fall, there are typically fewer buyers looking and more homes for them to choose from. So, you want to make the most of every buyer who comes across your house.
And your price is one of the first things that can make them stop and take a closer look – or keep scrolling.
That’s why this isn’t the time to start high “just to see what happens.”
If buyers think your house is overpriced, they have plenty of other options to move on to. And that could leave you sitting and waiting.
So, if you want to sell before year-end, work with your agent to find the right price for your house and today’s market. That may mean listing at market value – or even slightly below it – to grab buyers’ attention.
Redfin explains how a seemingly small difference can change your buyer pool:
“Buyers often search in round-number price brackets, so pricing at $499,000 instead of $505,000 can make your home appear in more searches and feel like a better deal.”
#2: Make a Great First Impression
When buyers had very few homes to choose from, they were often more willing to overlook dated finishes or a house that needed some work. That’s harder to count on now.
With more choices, how your house looks online and in person can determine whether it makes a buyer’s shortlist at all.
That doesn’t mean you need a full renovation before you sell, but you should take care of essential repairs, do what you can to boost curb appeal, and make sure your house photographs well. Maybe that’s some light staging, maybe it’s swapping out faucets or lights, or maybe a fresh coat of paint. Small details can help a lot.
After all, you only get one chance to make that first impression. Make it count.
#3: Stay Open To Negotiating
Some sellers are still expecting the kind of leverage they had a few years ago. But in many markets, buyers have more negotiating power today and there’s a lot more give and take.
The latest data from Redfin shows 46.2% of sellers gave buyers some type of concession. So, consider throwing in a little help with closing costs or covering a repair. Almost half of sellers are.
The takeaway? Playing hard ball may not get you what you want. But being flexible might. The key is not getting so focused on “winning” every individual negotiation that you lose sight of the bigger goal: making your move happen.
Sometimes a small concession is what gets you to the closing table.
#4: Know When It’s Time To Adjust
Sometimes your house tells you when something isn’t working. Maybe you’re getting plenty of online views but very few showings. Or buyers are coming through, but you’re not getting offers. Or maybe buyer feedback has one recurring theme.
Pay attention to those signals. They can help you figure out what needs to change.
Let’s say your price is the most common point of feedback. Talk to your agent about a price drop. It doesn’t have to be a big change to make a big difference. The average price cut right now is 4% according to HousingWire Data. That’s normal.
Now, that doesn’t mean you should panic and slash your price after a week. It means you and your agent should pay attention to what buyers are telling you and adjust if you need to.
Sometimes the smartest move isn’t waiting for the right buyer. It’s making sure you’re giving that buyer a reason to act.
Bottom Line
Selling this fall is absolutely doable. And now you know four of the biggest things to get right.
If you want to sell before the end of the year, connect with a local agent to make sure you have the right strategy from day one.
