When the real estate market is riding high, the right staging can help you sell your home fast and for more money.  When the market hits a rough patch, staging your home properly can mean the difference between a quick sale and no sale at all.  No matter what the current state of the real estate market, spending a few dollars on exterior curb appeal can get you thousands extra on the sale.

Curb appeal is an important aspect of selling a home in any season, but it is even more critical as the cooler fall months arrive.  Fall home shoppers are more likely to cruise the neighborhoods, and less inclined to get out of their vehicles to take a closer look.  Making your home look great from the road is one of the best ways to create that all important first impression.  If would-be home buyers like what they see driving by, they will be more likely to schedule a full walk-through later on.

As you get ready to stage your home for the fall, start by walking around the exterior and looking with a critical eye.  Chances are there are some things you have been meaning to do but not gotten around to.  Those unfinished summer projects are a good place to start.  Beyond that, there are some specific improvements you can make to improve the curb appeal – and boost the value – of your home.

Solar Lighting

Fall is the perfect time to add some solar lighting to the exterior of your home.  The shorter days and longer nights will make those solar lights shine, and show off the beauty of your home to shoppers driving by in the evening.

Make sure the solar lights you choose are bright enough to be easily seen from the road.  The solar lights should also blend well with any existing lights.  The new lights should compliment your existing landscape, not detract from it.

Path Lighting

Part of staging is making your home look like a warm and welcoming place, and there is no better way to do that than with path lighting.  Use path lights, either traditional or solar, to light the way from the road or the driveway to the front door.

You can accent your path lighting and welcome visitors by adding a spotlight to your front door.  A well placed spotlight will enhance the beauty of your home to those passing by, and make your home safer and more secure as well.

Accent Your Home with Fall Flowers

Nothing adds to curb appeal as much as fresh flowers.  Decorate the exterior of your home with an assortment of fall flowers to give it a homey appeal.  If the front of your home already boasts a garden, be sure that it is weeded regularly and well maintained.  If you have not already planted flowers, consider buying a few large containers, along with an assortment of colorful fall flowers, from your local nursery.

Flowers are also a great way to decorate your mailbox and the area around your flagpole.  Adding a few containers around the base of the flagpole, or a colorful planter to the top of your mailbox, can improve your curb appeal and the enjoyment of your home.

Create a Festive Holiday Display

The autumn season includes some of the most anticipated holidays of the year.  Improve the curb appeal of your home with a colorful and festive holiday display.  An assortment of fun and scary Halloween decorations will give the home a festive atmosphere, while traditional Thanksgiving décor will allow potential buyers to see themselves and their families in the house.

None of these curb appeal ideas are expensive, but they are all great investments in your home.  Making your home look great from the road is an essential part of real estate marketing.  You do not have to hire a professional home stager to make these improvements – you can do the work yourself and potentially boost the value of your home by thousands of dollars.