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There is something about fall that makes us look at our homes a little differently.
The leaves begin to change, the evenings get cooler, and suddenly the porch swing that seemed like an afterthought in July becomes the perfect place to sit with a cup of coffee. A few pumpkins appear on the steps. The mums come out. The fire pit gets one more season of use.
In real estate, we spend a lot of time talking with people about what makes a house valuable. We often talk about square footage, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, garages and location. Those things certainly matter. But after years of walking through homes with buyers and sellers, I have learned that there is another kind of value that doesn’t always show up on a listing sheet. It is the value of how a home feels.
The Front Porch Effect
In Morgantown and throughout our area, porches can be more than architectural features. They can be gathering places.
A porch gives us a place to greet neighbors, watch children play, enjoy an evening breeze or simply sit and watch the seasons change. In the fall, a porch becomes part of the personality of a home.
That is why a clean, welcoming front entrance can make such a difference when a home is on the market. It doesn’t require an expensive renovation. Sometimes it is as simple as sweeping the steps, replacing a tired doormat, adding a few seasonal plants and putting away the summer clutter. And yes, a pumpkin or two never hurts.
Buyers Notice the Little Things
When buyers walk into a home, they are evaluating much more than the number of rooms. They are imagining themselves living there. Can I picture my family gathered around this kitchen table? Where will we watch the Mountaineer game? Could we have friends over for Thanksgiving? Would I actually use this porch? Where will the kids play when the weather gets cold?
These questions may not appear on a buyer’s checklist, but they are often part of the decisionmaking process.
Fall is particularly good at showing us these lifestyle features. A backyard that looked simply “nice” in June may suddenly become an inviting gathering space when surrounded by colorful trees. A covered porch may become a favorite feature when the temperatures drop. A cozy family room can suddenly look like the perfect place for a football Saturday.
Curb Appeal Doesn’t Have to Be Expensive
One of the things I tell sellers is that preparing a home for the market does not always mean spending thousands of dollars. Fall is a great reminder that small improvements can make a big difference.
Clean the gutters. Trim overgrown landscaping. Remove dead annuals. Put away summer toys and outdoor equipment. Clean the windows. Make sure exterior lights are working as the days get shorter. Add some simple seasonal color. And don’t forget the pumpkins.
The goal isn’t to create a magazine cover. It is to make the home look cared for. That matters because buyers aren’t just purchasing a building. They are purchasing the opportunity to create their own life there.
The Value of Gathering
Perhaps what I appreciate most about fall is that it reminds us what our homes are really for. They are places where we gather.
We gather around kitchen islands and dining room tables. We gather on porches. We gather around fire pits. We gather in living rooms for football games. We gather for birthday dinners, neighborhood conversations and Thanksgiving meals.
When I work with buyers, I encourage them to think beyond the traditional features of a house and consider how the home will fit their lives.
A large kitchen might be valuable because it accommodates holiday cooking. A flat backyard might be valuable because it gives children a place to play. A garage might be valuable because it provides both parking and storage. A porch might be valuable because it becomes the place where you spend countless fall evenings.
Those things have real value, even if they don’t always translate neatly into a price per square foot.
A Home’s Value Is More Than a Number
Of course, as Realtors, we have to talk about market value. Comparable sales, condition, location, improvements and current market conditions all play an important role in determining what a home is worth.
But there is also a more personal definition of value. It is the house where you brought your baby home. The kitchen where your family celebrated Thanksgiving. The porch where you drank coffee every morning. The backyard where your children played. The living room where everyone gathered for the big game. Those memories are not included in an appraisal, but they are part of why homeownership matters to so many people.
So this fall, as you decorate your porch and watch the leaves begin to change, take a moment to appreciate your home for more than its market value.
Because pumpkins may add a little curb appeal, and a beautiful porch may catch a buyer’s eye, but ultimately, the greatest value of a home is the life that happens inside it. And that is something worth celebrating in every season.
Jenn Hagerty, a residential Realtor, is the 2026 president of the Morgantown Board of Realtors.