10 Tips to Help Sell Your Chicago Home This Fall!

It’s hard to believe that, with Labor Day behind us, we are quickly approaching fall. Before we know it, leaves will be changing colors and the crisp air and vivid blue skies will have us thinking about the holiday season. Here at Shoreline Property Advisors, we always get excited about the fall because the real estate market tends to pick up with activity as buyers and sellers try to get situated in their new homes before the holidays.

Since it’s still early in September and the holidays seem far away, now is a great time to put your home on the market if you’re considering selling your Chicago home this fall. You’ll be a few steps ahead of the competition and will spark interest with those buyers that are already starting to look for their dream home.

Interested to know how to make your home appeal to buyers this fall? Here are ten things you can do to help your home sell!

1. Update your listing photos- If your Chicago home was listed last winter or spring, talk with your Chicago Real Estate agent about updating your home’s marketing with brand new fall shots. Pictures from the previous season make your listing seem dated.

2. Focus on curb appeal- Selling your Chicago home during the fall certainly comes with one advantage: the season's beautiful foliage which can automatically make your home more attractive for showings. However, you still need to do your part to keep your home looking its best. Start by sprucing up your lawn, keep falling leaves at bay with frequent raking and patch up any brown spots in the grass.

3. Appeal to the senses- As the weather cools down in Chicago, make your home a warm, welcoming space where buyers will want to stick around. If you encourage them to stay awhile during showings, you give them more time to admire your home's best features.

4. Flaunt your fireplace- A warm, inviting fireplace is a great selling point as the weather gets cooler. Highlight this fall-friendly feature by arranging your furniture to make your fireplace a focal point. Place a mirror, artwork, vases or other tasteful decor on top of the mantel to make it even more prominent.

5. Think like a buyer- Fall house hunters are looking for great deals on Chicago homes, so be prepared for lowball offers and possible non-serious buyers. Manage your expectations and negotiate accordingly, depending on your motivation.

6. Hire a reliable real estate professional- As if selling your home isn't stressful enough, you're probably thinking ahead for the holidays or helping the kids ease into a new school year. During this hectic season, you definitely want a great Chicago Real Estate agent to take some of the pressure of selling your home off your shoulders. If you are still searching for an agent; our experienced Prudential Rubloff Chicago Real Estate agents would love to help you sell your Chicago home!

7. Price it right- If you want to grab the attention of Chicago buyers in this competitive market, you need to price your home correctly from the start - possibly slightly lower than comparable homes in your neighborhood. Setting your listing price just right could lead to a bidding war, resulting in a higher sales price for you. Work with your Chicago Real Estate agent to price your home correctly.

8. Watch your timing- Put your Chicago home on the market well in advance of looking for a new home. And don't place an offer on your next home until you have solid offers on the one you have to sell now. The last thing you want to do is juggle two mortgage payments.

9. Beware of TMI (too much information)- Buyers think most sellers these days are in dire straits, so don't do anything to add to that perceived advantage and lower your potential selling price. For instance, if you are moving from Chicago due to a job transfer, it's best not to offer up that information or at the very least, downplay the urgency. While you are obligated to disclose everything about the property's condition, you aren't obligated to disclose your personal situation.

10. Be flexible- We are currently in a buyers market in Chicago so be willing to work with buyers to help your chances of making a quick sale. Offer to pay for closing costs or repairs, and be adaptable when it comes to showing your home and holding open houses. If you really need to sell your Chicago home, you need to accommodate buyers' busy schedules as well. This might mean opening your home on weeknights and weekends. Be flexible!

We hope these tips are helpful as you prepare to sell your Chicago home this fall! If you have any questions about selling your home or are looking for a Chicago Real Estate agent to help guide you through the process; please contact us!

We would love to work with you to get your home sold!