First impressions can last a lifetime, and that isn’t reserved just for people! When you’re selling your house, curb appeal can set up expectations for what it will be like on the inside. People are visual creatures by nature (have you ever heard the phrase “my eyes were bigger than my stomach.”?) and that means when you’re selling a home, drawing people in with visuals is a great first marketing tactic to at least get a perspective buyer through the front door to see how beautiful your home is on the inside too!
Curb appeal is important, and while it may not be as exciting as tearing down the living room walls to create an open-concept space, or tearing out the cabinets and counters to upgrade, it’s the first step in making sure your house really “wows” people from the street. Wouldn’t you be more willing to look at a home that makes you stop and admire it before you’ve even set a foot inside?
Keep reading for some ideas on how to boost your home’s curb appeal to entice potential buyers to peek around, and ultimately sell your house!
Landscaping Is an Eye-Catcher
You may have the most beautiful, updated and renovated interior of a home to ever exist, but it’s all for naught if the outside of your home doesn’t reflect what’s on the inside. People do judge books, and in this case, homes, by their cover. A quick landscaping face lift is a great place to start, or if you have minimum resources/time, this might be the most important thing to invest in. Step across the street and look at your house from a buyer’s perspective. Is the grass burnt or missing in places? Are the hedges overgrown? Is the tree in the front yard dead? Take care of any glaring issues first. A fresh layer of mulch and some hanging plants or new shrubbery can really bump up the curb appeal, and will help a potential buyer envision themselves living and enjoying life.
Entryway
The front door and entryway of your home is the gateway to the rest of the home, meaning it’s important to have it in ship-shape before any open houses! Keep the entryway free of cobwebs, dead leaves and dirt is a great place to start, and if you want to kick it up a notch, consider updating your front door. You don’t have to completely replace the door, but a quick coat of outdoor primer and paint that compliments the color of your siding will be an instant welcoming upgrade.
If you have the space, consider putting a rocking chair or a colorful welcome mat on the front patio to help solidify the friendly aesthetic!
Look Up to the Roof
When was the last time you looked at your roof? We’ll admit, sometimes we forget about it too, but it’s an important part of curb side appeal and first impressions! Think back to when you first bought the house, and do the math on how old the roof is. Does it look a little worse-for-wear? If it could use a replacement, it might be a good idea to bite the bullet and get a new roof on your home (plus, if you pre-emptively replace the roof for a potential buyer, you can ask for a higher price! Hello return on investment!). On the other hand, if you leave the roof in it’s less-than-stellar condition, potential buyers may try to give a lower offer because they know they’ll need to replace it shortly after moving in. Ultimately, the choice is up to you!
Driveway and Sidewalks
Take a look at your driveway and the sidewalks leading up to your doorway. Are they filled with cracks, weeds, or stains? It happens, but fixing up these areas is another good way to up the curb appeal of your property. If you can, consider paving over your driveway with a new coat of asphalt. If this isn’t in your budget or if it’s going to take too much time to accomplish, at least pick out any weeds or spray them with weed killer. If you can rent or borrow a power washer, it may be a good idea to give the driveway and sidewalks a good spray to get rid of any dirt, grim or residue from daily use over the years. It’s amazing what a quick power wash can do to make your driveway look several years younger!
Light It Up
Is the outside of your home as obviously beautiful when the sun goes down? Or does it start to dim a bit? Consider adding some fun and aesthetic lighting options to the outside of your property. Solar-powered lights lining the driveway, or an outdoor lamp next to the mailbox is a great way to help your home stand-out at night. For an added touch of whimsy, summery string lights around the front entryway or lights that highlight your landscaping are a great way to make your home feel more welcoming, even in the dead of night.
Siding and Property
Remember the power washer from the driveway? It can come in handy again! Over time, siding on the outside of your house takes a lot of battering. From severe weather to just aging, siding can get a buildup of dirt and grime, which isn’t the most fun thing to fix, but it’s worth it! A quick power wash will make your home look almost-new again, and it can be applied to any backyard patio or deck as well. If your siding has seen some rough times and a power washer isn’t enough to fix any gashes or holes, it may be in your best interest to think about investing some money into the siding and see a greater return on investment upon selling.
Thank you for reading our real estate and homeowner’s blog. We are Weichert Realtors – Barton Harris & Co. and we’re happy to have helped you learn more about curb appeal and how it impacts the sale of your home.
