As Adirondack summer winds down, chillier nights are here and the first red leaves are showing. With the first signs of fall, it’s time to think ahead and plan for how to maximize the coziness of autumn at your property. Whether selling or just making your property shine is the goal, implementing ADKPP’s fall curb appeal tips will make your property stand out in the neighborhood.
As an Adirondack homeowner, expect the gorgeous autumn scenery to do at least half of the work when it comes to your property’s curb appeal. Living in such a beautiful and wild place, mother nature is in full glory every fall. From blazing foliage to crisp mountain air, fall draws many visitors to the region and is a favorite season for many locals.
To take full advantage of the fall season’s gorgeous backdrop, here are some of our top fall curb appeal tips to help your home stand out this season.
8 Stand Out Fall Curb Appeal Tips for Adirondack Homes
1. Embrace The Adirondack Autumn Palette
One of the easiest things that you can do is embrace the Adirondack autumn palette. Fall in the Adirondacks is famous for its reds, oranges and golds making it a fun palette to play with. Using the natural color scheme is a great guide for both your exterior and interior. A few things to consider are:
- Mums in burgundy, burnt orange and golden yellow
- Rustic wooden planters or whisky barrels
- Neutral-toned pumpkins mixed with heirloom varieties
- A seasonal wreath featuring dried leaves or pinecones
- Switching summer blankets and interior decorations into your cozy fall style blankets and decorations to add pops of color to the interior
The goal when creating curb appeal throughout your property is to complement the surroundings while adding some unique pops of color. Competing with the surroundings too much can hurt the curb appeal of your property.
2. Keep Up with Falling Leaves
While fall foliage popping around a property can really make it shine, unfortunately, fall got it’s name for a reason. Depending on recent temperatures and precipitation, leaves can start falling early in the season and result in extended maintenance time. While some leaves can add charm and character to the yard, leaves piled high can hurt curb appeal. To stay on top of things:
- Rake leaves regularly (especially before showings)
- Clear leaves from gutters and roof lines
- Remove debris from walkways and driveways
- Edge your yard for a clean look
Also, be on the look out for fallen branches breaking loose on windy autumn days. Clean up any fallen debris, and look for other damaged branches that need trimmed or removed. A tidy and maintained property makes an impression on buyers and gives them an idea of how well the house has been cared for. With the exterior of your home being the first thing seen, it is smart to keep up with yard maintenance and make the best impression possible.
3. Highlight Rustic Adirondack Charm
Both local and outside area buyers consistently look for a classic Adirondack feel in the Lake Placid area market. Fall is a great time to highlight property aspects that embrace rustic Adirondack charm. Think about how to make things feel cozy, welcoming and connected to nature. Some features to highlight, upgrade or prepare include:
- Natural wood siding or log details
- Stone walkways and retaining walls
- Covered porches with rocking chairs and plaid throws
Additionally, a neatly stacked pile of firewood by the door or fireplace subtly reinforces the cozy mountain lifestyle vibe that many buyers fall in love with. Early fall can provide the perfect opportunity to upgrade your property with these details as you prep for winter. Additionally, by taking advantage of warm days and cool nights, it’s easy to enjoy yard work and outdoor projects.
4. Upgrade Outdoor Lighting For Shorter Days
Fall days can feel shorter pretty quickly around the Adirondacks. Soft, warm lighting on your property exterior can be one of the most impactful fall curb appeal tips to make your property stand out. Whether you are prepping for a showing or just want to look good in the neighborhood, some ways to upgrade outdoor lighting includes:
- Solar Path Lights Along Driveway – This makes scheduling lighting easier as length of days change throughout the year. Options for pathway lights include larger fully installed lights or smaller removable lights. Depending on the style you choose, it may be best to keep them set up during warmer months and remove them during the winter to protect them during snow removal. Additionally, depending on the pathways around your property, you may want to consider adding some additional lights that lead the way to outdoor spaces.
- Warm LED Porch Light Bulbs – Choosing warmer LED lights can add a more welcoming ambiance to the property versus a whiter daylight bulb.
- Lantern Style Fixtures for a Lodge Inspired Look – If you are upgrading all light fixtures throughout the property, consider looking into lantern style fixtures to bring in more of the classic Adirondack camp charm.
Good lighting not only helps with safety around your property, it can provide the welcoming glow you’ve been looking for.
5. Create A Welcoming Entry Way
While the exterior as a whole can provide opportunity to execute fall curb appeal tips, don’t forget to create a welcoming entryway. The front door of most homes is a focal point, especially as people visit or approach the home during showings. Making the front entrance a priority can add a nice pop to your exterior curb appeal. Buyers can envision coming home or heading out to their Adirondack adventures through that door to enjoy hiking, paddling or doing the weekly grocery run. Make it more inviting by adding:
- A freshly painted door in a deep, rich tone
- A new welcome mat
- Symmetrical planters flanking the entry
- Clean, streak-free windows
Even small updates can make your home feel more move-in ready. While you are preparing the space, make sure that you don’t go overboard on the decorating to make the entry way feel smaller than it actually is or cluttered.
6. Highlight Outdoor Spaces
One of the unique things that you will find in most Adirondack properties is outdoor living spaces. Whether your property offers a sun porch, screen porch, deck, fire pit or lake access, take some time to highlight and freshen up these areas for fall enjoyment. Make sure that you don’t pack up furniture or outdoor living accessories too quickly as early to mid fall is typically an ideal time to enjoy the outdoors. If you plan on sprucing up outdoor living areas, you may want to consider:
- Staging a few Adirondack chairs around the fire pit
- Add outdoor blankets and cushions to the furniture on porches and/or decks – adding weatherproof outdoor storage that blends can be a great way to store in less than ideal weather.
- Sweep decks and patios – power wash if necessary
- If your porch has a fireplace, neatly stack firewood
- Store summer items neatly out of sight
These little details can provide potential buyers with a better idea of how to best lay out the property and also with inspiration if they want to make some changes after they buy.
7. Don’t Forget Driveways and Gravel Areas
Driveways throughout the Adirondacks can vary greatly between length and surface materials like gravel and asphalt. Driveways can be one of the most commonly forgotten parts when adding fall curb appeal to your property. Take your time to inspect your driveway and determine if there are any repairs or maintenance that may need to be done. Some of the maintenance may include:
- Re-Grading the Gravel – While it may not need to be done every year, Adirondack weather can cause ruts and bumps throughout gravel driveways and roadways especially with daily use. Keep an eye on condition and repair as needed.
- Fill in Potholes – Time to fix that bump you have been avoiding! Whether your driveway is gravel or asphalt, take the time to fill in any potholes that may have developed. This can be an easy fix on gravel driveways if it is only a few areas versus regrading the entire driveway.
- Remove the Weeds Along the Edges – While your yard looks great, taking the time to clean up the edges or more difficult spaces can provide that extra level of maintenance detail on your property.
- Clearly Define Parking Areas – If your parking areas are starting to become covered by leaves or unkempt yard, take some time and clean these areas so guests and potential buyers have an idea of the parking around the property. You may even want to add markers in the fall for these areas before the winter snow arrives.
A smooth, well maintained driveway can make a strong first or second impression depending on the length for home buyers. Getting jostled before arriving at the property can leave a sour taste and have buyers question how hard it is to maintain.
8. Consider Fall An Ideal Time To Sell
While late spring and summer are some of the busiest seasons in Adirondack real estate, fall can actually provide a unique advantage when selling your property. Fall buyers are usually motivated after missing out on properties in busier periods. They have experienced the region at its most ideal time and want to move before the weather and conditions become less than ideal. Additionally, there is generally less inventory as fall starts to arrive providing the perfect time for sellers to view the new property without as much competition. Our blog on the best season to buy in the Adirondacks provides some insight on what to expect throughout the seasons.
When you list your property in the fall, your home’s exterior can reflect the warmth and charm of the Adirondack autumn leading to a focus on the lifestyle instead of just real estate.
If you are considering listing this fall, our team is here to help you maximize your home’s potential in today’s market. Reach out to one of our experienced real estate agents to receive a complementary market analysis as well as help with any questions you may have.
Our first step before listing will be a focus on curb appeal and preparing your home, because in the Adirondacks even the leaves know how to make an entrance. Contact us here today or call 518-523-3333 to get started on your listing!