I have an unpopular real estate opinion.
You do NOT need 47 pumpkins on your front porch to sell your house in October.
😂
Fall in Western Massachusetts is already doing a lot of the marketing for us.
The trees are changing.
The air feels different.
Porches suddenly look cozier.
Fireplaces start making sense again.
And buyers can very easily picture themselves spending Thanksgiving, Sunday mornings and cold winter nights inside a home.
Our job is to use that feeling without turning your listing into the seasonal aisle at HomeGoods.
If you're selling a home in Western Massachusetts this October, here's how I would prepare it to make buyers start falling in love before they even open the front door.
Start With the Drive Up
Your showing doesn't begin when the buyer walks through the door.
It begins when they turn onto your street.
And the first thing they're seeing is the exterior.
In October, that means leaves matter.
Keep the driveway, walkway and front steps reasonably clear.
Clean up dead summer plants.
Trim anything overgrown.
Make sure the lawn doesn't look abandoned just because mowing season is ending.
And clean those gutters.
Your house doesn't need to look like nobody lives there.
It needs to look cared for.
Give Them a Front Door Moment
I LOVE a good entrance.
Your front porch or front steps don't need an elaborate makeover.
A clean doormat.
One tasteful seasonal planter.
Maybe a wreath.
A clean front door.
Good exterior lighting.
Done.
Simple almost always photographs better than piles of decorations.
Remember that we're selling the house, not Halloween.
Turn the Lights ON
October means shorter days in Massachusetts.
And if your showing happens at 4:30 or 5:00, the house can already start feeling dark.
Before showings:
Open the blinds.
Turn on lamps.
Turn on overhead lighting.
Replace burnt out bulbs.
Make sure exterior lights work.
Dark houses feel smaller.
Bright houses feel welcoming.
This sounds incredibly simple because it is.
It also matters.
Make the House Feel Warm
I don't mean crank the thermostat to 78 and roast everyone alive.
Please don't. 😂
But buyers should not walk into a freezing house.
A comfortable temperature immediately makes a home feel more inviting.
This is especially true for vacant properties.
Nobody falls emotionally in love with a house while keeping their winter coat zipped to their chin.
Be VERY Careful With Fall Scents
We need to talk about this.
Pumpkin.
Apple cinnamon.
Vanilla.
Maple pecan something.
I know.
But fragrance is personal.
A scent you love can be overwhelming to someone else, and excessive fragrance can actually make buyers wonder whether you're covering something up.
Clean wins.
Every time.
I'd rather your house smell like absolutely nothing than like twelve pumpkin candles fighting for dominance.
Let the Fireplace Be a Feature
If your home has a fireplace, pellet stove or beautiful hearth area, October is when buyers finally understand why it's there.
Stage around it.
Remove clutter.
Arrange the furniture so the fireplace makes sense as part of the room.
You want buyers picturing themselves sitting there on a cold Massachusetts night.
Emotional connection matters in real estate.
We're not manufacturing an emotion.
We're making it easier for buyers to imagine their own life in the house.
Don't Hide Your Outdoor Space Just Because Summer Is Over
This one is important.
Decks, patios, screened porches, fire pits and backyards still matter.
Actually, October can be one of the BEST times to show them.
Clean the deck.
Put the outdoor furniture in a thoughtful arrangement if you're keeping it out.
Clean the fire pit area.
Sweep the patio.
Show buyers that your outdoor living space isn't something they can only enjoy for six weeks in July.
Fall nights around a fire pit in Western Massachusetts?
Come on.
Sell that lifestyle.
Your Photography Has to Work Harder
October photography can be gorgeous.
It can also look dark REALLY quickly.
Professional photography matters year round, but timing becomes especially important in fall.
We want good natural light.
We want the property looking clean.
We want leaves managed.
We want outdoor spaces intentionally styled.
And if your property has incredible fall foliage?
We're absolutely using it.
Your home's first showing happens online.
Before someone ever schedules an appointment, they are deciding whether your house deserves a spot on their Saturday.
Our marketing needs to earn that showing.
Don't Decorate Every Room for Fall
You know what buyers need to see in the dining room?
The dining room.
Not seventeen ceramic pumpkins.
A few seasonal touches can create warmth.
Too many become visual clutter.
This applies to Halloween decorations too.
You can celebrate Halloween while you're selling your house.
I promise.
But giant inflatable skeletons probably don't need to star in your MLS photos.
Temporarily bench them.
They'll recover.
Selling the Area Matters Too
This is one of my favorite pieces of listing marketing.
We're not only selling your house.
We're selling what life there feels like.
A Westfield property might be close to local restaurants, parks, downtown businesses or the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail.
A Southwick home might offer access to outdoor recreation and a more rural feel.
A Northampton property might benefit from proximity to downtown restaurants, arts and entertainment.
A Sturbridge home could appeal to someone who values access to I 90, I 84, trails, lakes and local businesses.
Those things matter.
Especially to relocation buyers who have no idea what living in your community feels like yet.
The Goal Is NOT Perfection
Your house does not have to look like nobody has ever eaten cereal there.
People live in houses.
That's okay.
What we want is:
Clean.
Bright.
Uncluttered.
Warm.
Well cared for.
And easy for someone else to imagine as theirs.
That's the sweet spot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is October a good month to sell a house in Western Massachusetts?
It absolutely can be. Serious buyers continue searching throughout fall, and sellers may face different competition than during the traditional spring market. Your specific location, price point and current inventory should guide the strategy.
Should I decorate my house for fall while it's listed?
Yes, but keep decorations simple. A few seasonal touches can create warmth without distracting buyers from the home's actual features.
Should I wait until spring to sell my Western MA home?
Not automatically. Spring may bring more buyers, but it can also bring more competing listings. The better decision depends on your home, current market conditions and personal timeline.
Should I remove family photos before selling?
You don't necessarily need to remove every personal item, but reducing highly personal decor can help buyers focus on the space and imagine themselves living there.
Selling This Fall?
You don't have to turn your home into something it isn't.
My job isn't to strip every ounce of personality out of it.
It's to figure out what buyers are going to love, make those features impossible to miss and market the HELL out of them.
And fall gives us some incredible material to work with.
If you're considering selling your home in Westfield, Southwick, Agawam, Springfield, Holyoke, Northampton, Wilbraham, Westhampton, Sturbridge, Charlton or the surrounding Western and Central Massachusetts communities, let's talk before you start buying paint, furniture or 47 pumpkins.
We can figure out what your house actually needs first.
About Angie Schermerhorn
Angie Schermerhorn is a REALTOR® with the Stephanie Salerno Team at Coldwell Banker Realty, serving homeowners throughout Western Massachusetts, Central Massachusetts and northern Connecticut.
Angie approaches every listing with a customized strategy that combines thoughtful preparation, professional media, strong digital marketing, clear communication and an understanding that selling a home is about more than putting it on the MLS.
