Fall Can Be a Great Time to List Your Nelson Home
By Arcuri-Precious Real Estate | Kevin Arcuri and Layla Precious
Autumn in Nelson and the surrounding communities is stunning- the changing colours, gorgeous sunny days, warm light coming through the windows, and gardens that have had all summer to fill in.
September and October are historically some of the busiest months of the year for our business. Maybe it's the feeling of wanting to get settled before winter. We find that buyers who are out looking this time of year tend to be serious, and summer inventory is starting to thin out in the fall, which means more attention on your property.
If you decide to list your home this fall season, here are a few quick tips we would recommend.
Have your windows professionally cleaned
This is money well spent. This is something we recommend to anyone listing their home at any time of the year and fall is no exception. The light in September and October comes in low and golden, and clean glass can make a room that glows and feel clean and peaceful. If you only do one thing on this list, do this one.
Tidy and declutter — but don't let it take over your life
We recommend having your home as clean and fresh as possible, without letting it stress you out. Life is still happening while your home is for sale, and you're allowed to live in it. Clear surfaces and tidy spaces matter far more than perfection.
Do some touch-up paint if it's needed
Fresh paint is one of the best ways to make a space feel calm, clean and new. You don't need to repaint the house. Scuffed trim, a patched wall, a tired doorframe. Small work, big return.
Replace burnt-out bulbs, and go warm
Walk through every room and every fixture. And when you replace them, choose warm-toned bulbs rather than the cool, blue-white ones. LEDs come in warm tones now, so you don't have to give up efficiency to get a room that feels inviting. Cool light can make a beautiful home feel like an office.
Keep the yard tidy, but don't overthink it
Mow the lawn and keep things neat. Beyond that, relax — fall shows off the local beauty all on its own. Changing leaves, sunlight on the mountains, a garden that's had a full season to fill in. That's not a flaw to hide, it's the selling feature.
Open the windows and let the house breathe
Fresh air makes a home smell inviting in a way no brought in sent can. Something in the oven never hurts either. Clean, fresh air and inviting cozy smells.
Get your wood stove WETT certified
If your wood stove hasn't had a WETT inspection in the past couple of years, it's worth booking one now. Most insurance companies will require a current WETT certificate before they'll insure the new buyers — so it's going to need to happen anyway.
If you live rurally, have your septic tank pumped
If you're on a septic system and it hasn't been pumped recently you may want to add it to the list. Most tanks need pumping every four to seven years depending on tank size and household usage.
Here's the practical reason to do it now: when most REALTORS® write an offer on a rural property, they'll include a request that the tank be pumped prior to the closing date if it hasn't been done in the past few years. If yours is due, getting it handled ahead of time is one less thing to deal with after receiving an offer. Having a recent septic pumping receipt to offer buyers agents is a great addition to a listing package.
Then let the season do its work
Get those few things handled and you can sit back and let our local fall weather do its magic. The homes that photograph and show best this time of year are the clean, bright, honest ones with the door open and the colours coming through the glass.
Thinking about listing this fall?
Kevin and Layla of Arcuri-Precious Real Estate would be glad to walk through your property, talk honestly about timing, and prepare a current market evaluation with no obligation. We work throughout Nelson, Kaslo, and the Slocan Valley, including Slocan, Silverton and New Denver.
About Arcuri-Precious Real EstateKevin Arcuri and Layla Precious are Nelson-area Realtors with more than 20 years of experience helping clients buy and sell homes, acreages, waterfront properties, and rural land throughout Nelson, the West Kootenays, Kaslo, and the Slocan Valley.
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