You have certainly heard how important any first impression is. Well, it is just as meaningful for your home as you start to present it to prospective buyers. Within the first 15 seconds of seeing your home, a buyer has developed an opinion of your property. This is why it is crucial to create the right first impression to ensure a successful sale.
Buyers need to “feel at home” and curb appeal can help to do this before they even enter your home. Buyers are affected by color, smells, and sounds both outside and inside. Buyers tend to like a neutral environment where they can imagine their things, pets, family, friends, and all the bits that make up their world fitting into your property.
- Your home’s curb appeal is not just the landscaping but everything from the street to your doorway. The easiest way to “see what a buyer will see” is to start with the view of the street and sidewalk to insure it is free of litter and debris, if needed give it a quick sweep. Sidewalks can also have weeds that may be growing between the cracks, removing these gives a clear line of sight.
2. Before you get to the house you may also encounter a fence, mailboxes, or a light fixture. All these items get exposed to the elements and because of this they tend to have a tired look to them. Maybe the fence is squeaking, or the paint is peeling, or the light fixture is from 3 decades ago or rusting. Taking the time to paint the fence, fix the squeaking gate, or update the mailbox and light fixtures can go a long way toward the visual appeal of your home.
3. The driveway and walkway are both paths that can add or take away from the charm and allure of your home. Similar to the sidewalks, your walkway should be clear of weeds growing between the cracks and the landscaping should be clear of the edges. The driveway and walkway are used daily and because of their daily use the surface condition can be damaged. If there are stains or cracks they will look worn. For your walkway, you may consider having the sections that are cracked repaired. For the driveway, you can always reseal it to smooth out the surface and hide the stains.
4. Landscaping is vital to keeping the yard well maintained. You want your shrubs to be neatly trimmed and the lawn to be freshly mowed. You also want to be aware of the overall the health of your landscaping. Nicely cared-for lawn or landscaping should also look healthy. If your grass has spots beyond help, a bit of sod goes a long way to improve the overall look of a well-maintained healthy lawn. You can add some plants to the edges of the walkways or where you need “filler”. A Great plant to add is the hosta plant. They are hearty and easy to plant. They also provide great coverage and come back every year.
5. Your house’s exterior is a large part of your curb appeal. The property may have a painted exterior or siding, both of which can use freshening up. The doorway is the focal point of any house. Be sure to repaint the door, maybe replace door hardware, and you could install a more modern style of house numbers if it has been a while since you have upgraded them. With siding, you can have a professional do the power washing or maybe you already own the equipment, and you can do this. Having your home power washed can prove to be a vital thing to do to your home but only when appropriate. There are times when power washing would not be the best idea-(historic homes,wood,etc). Maybe your home has paint outside instead of siding, a fresh coat of paint can be one of the smartest investments you can make to increase the value of your home. If you’d prefer not to spend the money to paint the whole house you can always just touch up the shutters and the front of the house. Don’t forget about the gutters and downspouts! These should look neat and crisp on the house with extenders to direct the water away from the house. Lastly, your roof should be well maintained, as this will speak to the care you have put into the home. If you have any broken or missing shingles/tiles, replace them, repair flashing if needed, and paint eaves and fascia boards.
All and all when you invest a bit into updating your home’s outdoor aesthetics it can really affect the final amount a buyer feels your home is worth, bringing you the most money possible.