Published: 04/11/2019
Autumn can be a good to time to find a buyer for your property given that there’s still time for people to move in either for Christmas on early in the new year. The mood is often good as well with the early beginnings of a festive atmosphere, but without the freeze and without crowds, many of whom generally wait until December 24th to do the Christmas shopping.As the leaves turn and tumble down, this time of year can be a romantic moment to be selling your property and sunny autumn days have an elevating crispness that has people want to go out in it, rather than stay indoors. Which means good viewing potential. Berkhamsted, Tring and all our wonderful surrounding villages look delightful in the autumn with so many trees, both in the towns and out in the surrounding countryside, so there are plenty of positives to capitalise on.
FIRST THINGS FIRST
Obviously leaves are the big story and you’ll probably have plenty falling around your path and porch. Make sure they are swept regularly so your pretty tiled or paved pathway is visible and so any pots or hanging baskets are free of leafy piles.
On the subject of plants, why not take a look at the Gardeners World website – https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/10-plants-for-autumn-colour/ – for their advice on the top 10 plants for autumn colour – you can still make a wonderful, colourful and inviting first impression of rich autumnal foliage to get your viewers in the mood.
WARMING WELCOMES
Although it’s hardly arctic, autumn is a chillier season so make certain your house is warm for people coming to see it. If you have gas central heating, now would be a good time to fire up the boiler and make sure everything works, and to check your radiators to see if they need bleeding. If you have an open fireplace, it’s time to get that cleaned and prepared to welcome viewers with the ultimate warmth – and remember to stock up on whatever fuel it uses. Finally, if you notice any drafts, get them dealt with.
COSY CORNERS
Selling in the summer and spring is all about bringing in the light, but in the autumn and winter it’s time to big up the cosy factor. Take a look around your home for opportunities to add an extra bit of comfort and texture wherever you can. Earthy greens and timber tones are eternal autumn colours; perhaps a few throws and cushions in this season’s tones to add some extra sumptuousness to your couch or beds. Naturally scented autumnal candles are also an excellent way to add welcoming aromas, and, for the prefect freebie accessory, simply wander outside and pick up a few pine cones to put in a bowl on the dining table or hallstand.
If you’d like to give a room a new look, Farrow & Ball has launched a new range of paint this autumn in conjunction with the Natural History Museum. Named Colour by Nature, it looks back more than 200 years, taking inspiration from entries in Werner’s Nomenclature of Colours – a ground-breaking classification of colour in nature published in 1814 with painstakingly detailed recordings of mineral, vegetable and animal hues from around the globe that became a precious source of inspiration and information for scientists and artists then and now.
GOOD GOURDS
Winter vegetables are perhaps the homeliest and most photogenic when it comes to giving your kitchen that inviting and anticipatory sense of tasty casseroles, stews and soups. Butternut squash, pumpkins and other members of the gourd family display particularly well and have an instantly homely effect on any kitchen, regardless of whether it’s a country or contemporary design: keep a couple by the stove with an autumn recipes book.
LIGHTING EFFECTS
As it gets darker inside, it’s important to ensure the inside of your home has lighting that creates a welcoming atmosphere. Start by testing every light – inside and out – to check they’re all working, and replace any glaring bulbs with soft tone versions. Side lamps often create a warmer, gentler, cosier environment, so make the most of the ones you have and place them in principle rooms. If you’re a bit short on side lighting, now is the time to get some: they make a huge different to the ambiance in a room, which in turn dictates how long a potential buyer will spend their time in it.
We hope that gives you plenty of ideas for presenting your home this autumn. If you’d like any more inspiration or advice on selling your home in or around Berkhamsted or Tring this autumn, why not get in touch with one of our sales teams? We’d love to hear from you.
Berkhamsted office: 01442 863000
Tring office: 01442 820420