As fall approaches and the weather turns cool, real estate markets across Canada enter a traditionally busy period. Competition is still fierce for buyers in many markets, and if you want to get top dollar for your home, it’s important to ensure it looks well-kept and welcoming. While you might have done some landscaping in preparation for listing your home in the spring or summer, there is plenty more to do if you want to ensure your Toronto townhouse for sale fetches a competitive price.

Here are our top tips for improving your home’s curb appeal in the fall.

Rake and Fertilize

While many consider autumn in Canada to span September and October, leaves can start falling as early as mid-August, and it’s important to keep them under control by raking frequently. When your home is listed, you may not have much notice for viewings, and you won’t have time to ensure your front yard is leaf-free before dashing out the door. Instead, make it part of your morning or evening routine to do a quick 20-minute outdoor cleanup, so your home always looks fresh and tidy.

Second, as cold weather approaches, the growth of your lawn will slow down, which is the perfect time to apply fertilizer. Fertilizer applied in the fall will help your lawn come in strongly in the Spring, on the off chance it’s still on the market at that time. A bag of fertilizer is very inexpensive, and the application will take under an hour for a modestly sized lawn.

Plant Autumn Blooms

A well thought out garden is home to a variety of perennial plants that bloom and show colour during every season. To give your home’s curb appeal some extra oomph, plant perennials like sedum, burning bush, and ornamental grasses, which will all burst into colour in late summer and early fall and will keep your garden looking vibrant. For a quick, instant fix you can supplement with annuals like Chrysanthemums which are hardy and can tolerate cold weather. Chrysanthemums are very inexpensive, plentiful to purchase, and look great in planters, window boxes, and in garden beds.

Update Your Outdoor Décor

Home décor isn’t just about what’s inside your home. You can boost your curb appeal by dressing up your front door to make your space more inviting and welcoming to potential buyers. First, start with lighting. The daylight hours are much shorter in fall, which is why it’s important that your home has adequate outdoor lighting. Updated light fixtures could be the difference between a bright and welcoming first impression and your home looking like a haunted house. Replace light fixtures that are undersized and don’t produce enough light, and set them on timers to turn on automatically, so you don’t need to remember to flip that switch when leaving for a viewing.

Beyond lighting, consider replacing your doormat. Doormats look great for a few weeks after you purchase them, but quickly become worn and faded. A fresh, crisp doormat will instantly make the right impression. To make your doormat truly fall themed, consider layering a Buffalo check outdoor rug underneath as this blogger did. This inexpensive upgrade has a wonderfully festive effect.

Keep the Halloween Decorations Minimal

If you find yourself with Hamilton real estate (or really any home) for sale around Halloween, carefully consider your outdoor decorations. The last thing you want is for your Halloween decorations to camouflage your home’s best features. Avoid covering your lawn with faux headstones and keep the sound effects to a minimum. A few carved pumpkins and some festive gourds are fine, but the more minimalist the décor, the better.

While spring and summer are traditionally considered prime real estate selling months, fall can also be an excellent time to sell a home. With that in mind, use these curb appeal tips to ensure your home makes the best possible impression.

How to Improve Your Curb Appeal in the Fall by Jordann Brown | Zoocasa