Fall is a cozy time of year here in Cleveland with our abundance of locally owned coffee shops, thriving breweries, and picture-worthy patios. When selling your home, you want potential buyers to feel that same type of coziness that drew them to this city. Potential buyers want to be able to picture themselves in a space and what better time to do that than during the autumn months. To prepare your home for the upcoming fall housing market, we put together a few tips for ensuring that your home is in top form and ready for selling.  

1. Clean up the exterior of your home. Cleveland is sprawling with greenery and this time of year, our yards and streets are being covered by falling leaves. Rake those leaves! Clean up any fallen branches. Mow your lawn (hopefully) one last time for a while. Remove any seasonal plants that may have reached its prime with the end of summer. And clean out those gutters! A clean yard is more appealing to potential buyers and makes your home more desirable.
2. Step up your landscape! With an increase of bare trees and muted colors, make sure your landscaping is in tip-top shape. Replace summer flowers with flowers and plants that grow during autumn. Attract potential buyers with gorgeous landscaping perfect for fall. 
3. Have your furnace/HVAC serviced. Before turning on your furnace or HVAC, make sure the system is fully cleaned and serviced to avoid any mechanical issues or unwanted smells when showing your home. Even better, this can also help things run more smoothly during the selling process!
4. Clean your windows. This past spring and summer in Cleveland have been rainy which can cause windows to appear dirty and prevent natural light from entering the home. Be sure to clean all windows to improve appearance, reduce any spots, and let in as much light as possible when showing your home.  
5. Clean your fireplace. Especially before using! This one is mainly for safety but also helps prevent any damage to the fireplace and even your roof. Similar to your furnace, having your fireplace serviced prior to listing your home can help the selling process easier. 
6. Add extra lighting. Fall means cooler temps, warm drinks, AND shorter days. With less natural light, make sure to keep your rooms bright by adding extra lighting, whether that be plug-in lamps, hanging fixtures, or candles. It is important that buyers can actually see the home that they are viewing!
7. Decorate with warm colors and subtle fall accents. When potential buyers visit your home, they want to be able to picture themselves living there so be sure to keep decorations minimal to avoid clutter. Try adding a decorative wreath to your door and some festive items to your mantel or table centerpiece. Simple items will make your home for sale more inviting and cozy.