With the advent of fall comes a lot of festivities from Thanksgiving to Halloween. All those decorations and celebrations can make it the perfect time to sell a home with that in mind. 

Don’t simply let the season wash over you — use it to your advantage. The fall can be a hot season to sell, after families have returned from summer vacations and kids have settled in school but before the rush of Christmas.

For example, there are several fall decorating strategies that can help sell a home faster. Pull out the throw blankets on the couch, light some spiced candles and create that warm, cozy feeling in your place. It’s exactly that type of décor and staging that can set the scene for a very happy sale.

At the same time, check basic maintenance requirements like furnace filters so when you turn on the heat, the air remains fresh-smelling. Also wash the windows, both on the inside and outside, to get the grime of summer off before any buyers’ peer out.

Don’t forget about the outside of your house as well — many people make up their minds based on first appearances, after all. While it may seem appealing to jump on the bandwagon of spider webs and broomsticks when Halloween rolls around, resist the urge.

Instead, focus on some tasteful gardening. First, deal with the basics: weeding, trimming the lawn and raking the leaves. Then, change out summer floral arrangements for some fall plants that bring in splashes of oranges, yellows and reds.

Add a swinging chair with some pillows and a blanket on the porch, for example, to tempt would-be buyers with the taste of relaxing to come. All this combines to create great autumn curb appeal.

Just because the water is getting cooler doesn’t mean it’s time to hang up your gardening gloves just yet — fall can be a great time to focus on indoor plants.

Unlike an outdoor garden, houseplants can survive even the bleakest of seasons to continue lighting up a room and, in some cases, providing food to harvest all throughout the year.

These are some of the best ones to plant now.

Tillansia
These are also known as “air plants” because of how easy they are to maintain. They sustain themselves off the moisture in the air and require no soil to grow. They come in hundreds of different forms to add a splash of life to a room.

Spider plant
This pretty little potted plant spills over with long, lush foliage but requires little work to keep alive. It thrives in low to bright indirect light, making it perfect for an indoor setting.

Chives
This edible plant can be grown in almost any condition. Harvest them at the base and add them to a dish.

Zebra plant
This is one of the easiest succulents to grow because it requires low light, minimum water and can be happy in either open spaces like a living room or smaller rooms like a bathroom.

Mint
This perfect leaves can be added to teas, desserts or simply sucked on – a special treat, grown right in your living room.

Dragon Tree Dracena
A colourful tree that’s easy to maintain but can grow to a healthy size, adding vibrancy to a room while purifying the air.

Bay Laurel
Also known as the bay leaf, this is a herb that’s often called for in pastas, chillies and stews. Why buy it when you can grow it right at home?