Fall's sunny days and cool evenings lend themselves to leaf peeping, pumpkin carving, apple picking, bonfires and sweaters. September, October and November are also great months to sell your house.

Although spring and summer get the most attention when buying or selling, the autumn months shouldn't be overlooked when you are ready to put your house on the market.

Families with children often want to be settled in a new home prior to the first day of school, but retirees looking to downsize, empty nesters wanting a change, millennials, and folks whose companies are transferring them to a new location may find the fall months ideal for house-hunting.

Most homes look better during the fall months. Colorful foliage on trees and bushes and home décor like pumpkins and fall flowers enhance a property's curb appeal and pique the interest of prospective buyers.

Autumn weather is also a favorable factor. Fall's mild temperatures, rather than summer's hot and humid days, are more attractive to buyers and advantageous to the seller. It's also possible in much of early fall to schedule early evening showings because it's still light outside.

First Impressions Count

Buyers want to envision themselves in your home and yard, so anything you can do to make your property appealing is worth a couple of hours or days of your time. Follow these tips to help you show off your home to its best advantage.

• Outdoor Prep. The exterior of a property gets the first look from prospective buyers. It makes sense to prep the outside by mowing the lawn, raking leaves, trimming hedges and shrubs, and cleaning the gutters. Blowing the walkway before each showing keeps the entry neat and tidy.

• Add Cheerful Touches. Hang a colorful wreath of leaves, grasses and vines on the front door, place pumpkins, gourds and mums on the front steps and include purple and pink asters, orange, yellow and gold marigolds and billowy grasses in your borders and plant pots.

• Carry the Season Indoors. Take the autumn theme indoors with a few carefully selected autumn-hued accents that reflect the season. Adding a couple of throw pillows or a snuggly blanket to a sofa or chair adds a warm and welcoming touch, or bake up a batch of apple muffins or spice cookies and have hot cider simmering on the stove on the day of your open house to lend a delicious aroma.

• Inspect & Repair. Take care of any major issues before an inspection. Resolve roof repairs, HVAC issues, water damage and foundation problems.

• Indoor Maintenance. Touch up paint, fix leaky faucets or sticky kitchen drawers. As the furnace or heat pump may be running during a showing replace air filters to eliminate possible stale odors. Insulate around windows and doors as leaks and drafts are more noticeable in the fall.

• Clean & De-clutter. A deep cleaning and removing clutter and personal items like family photos will help potential buyers visualize themselves in your home.

• Add Light. The season's shorter days mean less light. To show off your home to its best advantage clean the windows to let in as much light as possible. Add lamps in every room and turn them on when a showing is scheduled. You want your home to look inviting inside as well as from the street.

For service providers who do some of these tasks, visit our service providers page!