You’ve decided you’ll be selling your home shortly and you’re planning out how to make it sellable. Curb appeal is more than just making it pretty to the neighbors. It’s about creating an invitation to the perfect buyer to come inside and find out more. It’s about helping those buyers to take a second look and make a final offer.
According to Wikipedia, curb appeal is defined as “attractiveness of the exterior of a residential or commercial property, as viewed from the street.” That means as your buyer’s line up in front of your home, you want them to be salivating with desire to come inside and experience the delightful interior of your beautiful home. If you want to get your home ready to sell and need curb appeal, here are five tips to make your home attractive and leave a good impression.
1. Paint Your Trim, Window Panes, and Front Door
If you spend a bit of money on this, you’ll get a huge benefit from it. Choose colors that pop and go well with your house. Make them accent your already beautifully styled home. Throwing on a fresh coat or totally redoing your trim can make your home much more appealing.
2. Look at Your Home Differently
Most of us see our homes so much that we have overlooked those little imperfections that bugged us when we first bought our home. Things like roof shingles lifting. As a home buyer, you’ll be looking at your new acquisition with a keen eye.
So if you’re going to make your home have great curb appeal, you’ll want to take a critical eye to the exterior. Make it a date with your spouse, if you want, to pretend you’re just buying your home and make a list of things you both see as small imperfections or that feel a little off to you. Then evaluate those to determine if you need to fix them.
3. Replace Your House Numbers and Mailbox
Most people don’t realize that these little things can change a buyer’s mind instantly. If your house numbers aren’t easy to see or have tarnished so much you can’t tell if they’re silver or mold-green, then it’s time to update. Even if they seem to be okay, getting shiny new numbers and a sturdy mailbox tells the new buyers you are paying attention to details.
Upgrade your curb appeal with a modern house numbers sign and a durable mailbox, signaling to potential buyers your meticulous attention to detail
4. Check That Sidewalk
Sidewalks are important and can be easily overlooked, especially if you haven’t maintained them. They can have cracks and frost heaves or even exposed roots from nearby trees. All of these instances can cause a buyer to run away screaming about liability. It’s also a good idea to get these types of issues fixed in the first place, because as long as you own the home, you’re liable for any injury caused by neglect. You can research how to find a home improvement loan to fix those cracks or if money isn’t an issue, start looking for contractors to lay a new sidewalk.
5. Under Pressure
Many homeowners forget that decks and patios can accumulate a lot of debris and dirt in the corners and unused spaces. Hiring someone to pressure wash your deck or patio is one option or you can rent a pressure washer and do it yourself. Whichever way you choose, using a pressure washer to clean the exterior of your home is a great way to create an inviting atmosphere for your next buyer.
BONUS Tip: Shrubs and Trees
Greenery has been proven to create great curb appeal. If your front yard looks like a desert, then you’ll probably be in need of adding some trees or bushes to help. This is a larger project and should probably be included in any repair or restoration project you have planned. Greenery creates an inviting atmosphere and enhances your front yard appeal.
As buyers drive by your home and look up to the front of your home, their first impression is the exterior of your home. Curb appeal is important for getting a buyer to take the next step and entering your home. Once they are inside, you can talk to them and show them the amazing parts of your home that make it so appealing. But first, you’ve got to get them to want to come inside. These steps can help you accomplish that.
