Tips on selling your home this fall

If you are looking to sell your home this year, don't let the challenging housing market discourage you. With favorable interest rates and a large buyer pool, this fall season can be a great time to put your house up for sale.

Price appropriately and make simple improvements to ensure your home has the appeal buyers are looking for.

"It's impossible to time any market," said Piero Orsi, president of the Realtor Association of NorthWest Chicagoland in Arlington Heights. "Realtors have worked with buyers and sellers in all types of markets and know what changes or improvements can generate the quickest sale at the best price."

A common mistake for sellers as the market slows is to set an unrealistic price for their home. A house that is priced appropriately for the market will be taken more seriously and will sell more quickly than one that's overpriced.

One of the easiest ways to properly price your home is to request a comparative market analysis (CMA), or a report telling you how much your house is worth comparable to other homes sold in the area in the past year. A local Realtor not only has experience with these types of reports, but access to the sales records in your area and can complete this analysis upon request. Once you have a proper price for your home, you can spend some time preparing it for sale.

The changing colors of the fall season can make for a beautiful landscape for a listing. Since most buyers tend to be more inclined to request a showing if a home's exterior is visually appealing, focus some of your time on improvements to your curb appeal and add interior touches.

Here are some quick tips:

• Keep the lawn tidy.

• Add some seasonal accents to your home. Hang a fall wreath on the door or place pumpkins on the front porch.

• Consider baking a pie before your open house. Or burn a candle to fill the home with the scent of cinnamon or apples.

• Open blinds and turn on the lights to brighten the home.

• Emphasize the fireplace if you have one. Light a fire if the weather is cool to create a sense of warmth.

• Trim any bushes or trees that might obstruct the view of your home.

• Move pets to another location before showings.

"The value of your home does not depend on the season," said Piero Orsi. "Set a competitive price, familiarize yourself with the current market and be patient."

For more information, visit www.RANWC.com.