If you cringe at the thought that your house does not have curb appeal, then it’s time to take steps to improve it. The outside of your home is the part that gives the first impression to potential buyers. It’s best if you consider making it appealing and inviting.
Below you will find tips on improving curb appeal to attract buyers before entering your house.
Take a walk around the outside of your house.
Walking around your residence is something you should do regularly to keep an eye on things that may need your attention. This helps you keep up on the maintenance, so you don’t have to spend a lot of money right before you move. It also helps increase the property value of your home as well as the neighborhood. Things potential buyers pay particular attention to are:
- the walkway
- lighting
- landscaping
- front entry
- the general exterior of the house
Prospective buyers take in the entire house, including the exterior, and take notes of everything that needs to be worked on and use that in their evaluation when making an offer. You should consider standing across the street and look at your home to see its curb appeal. By doing this, you will be able to see from the viewpoint of a prospective buyer. Make a note of everything that requires correcting to help make sure your home sells for top dollar.
Painting your house
A fresh coat of paint is a great way to breathe new life into your home. A fresh coat of paint will help your home stand out from your neighbor’s, catch the eye of prospective buyers to see it from afar. However, you must ensure that the color you choose is in line with regulations if you live in a neighborhood with a Homeowners Association.
Use contrasting colors to paint your doors, trims, and shutters. The right painting strategy can draw attention to preferred features and away from others.
Using flower boxes
Another quick, easy way to add bright, beautiful colors to your house is to add flowers. You can add flowers to the front porch, flower beds in the yard, or window flower boxes. Most flower boxes are affordable, and you can choose an iron or copper box if you’re going for a more classical look.
Choose colors that will suit your color scheme. Keep your flowers watered to keep them looking fresh while your house is on the market.
Planting trees
You should consider planting decorative trees in the yard if you’re looking to attract potential buyers. A tree can add a bit of extra color and flair to your yard. If there’s enough space in your house’s front section, you can use decorative trees to frame the entrance. It doesn’t take long to set a tree, and it isn’t expensive to purchase.
Cleaning sidewalks, entryways, and hardscapes
While it’s easy to remember to clean the softscapes of your house, such as landscaping, it’s easy to forget to clean the hardscapes such as the walkway and driveway. You can use a power washer to get rid of the dirt and grime, purchase special chemicals that you can spray on that will clean over time, or hire a professional. If there are stepping stones, ensure that they are secured in the ground and clean. Steps covered in moss and algae are not only unattractive but also pose a real slip hazard.
Minor Touches
It would help if you also considered a fence around your yard; this will allow prospective buyers to feel like there’s more space than leaving the yard open. Also, adding a small bench to your yard will have buyers wanting to visit your yard space.
Adding lights to the exterior of your house
Installing new light fixtures can immediately allow your home to look updated and improve home curb appeal. Choose light fixtures that will brighten your entryway. Also, choose lighting that attaches to a wall, making it easier for you to install yourself. There are different lighting fixtures; you want to select one with a low voltage. Lighting isn’t only for the house; you can additionally put them on the yard’s trees. If you’re worried about your electricity bill going up after installing these lights, you can choose to use solar lighting instead, but a point to remember is that solar lights aren’t as bright.
Adding life to your mailbox
While you should install a mailbox that follows the regulations of the city you live in, adding a little flare to it can help set the mood of your home. A mailbox tells buyers who you are before meeting you. You can choose a mailbox with similarities to your house’s trimmings for coordination purposes and paint the post the identical color as your house. To present your yard as welcoming, you can add a small flowering garden around the base. If you’re interested in presenting a more formal look, combining metal and wood with dark colors with a brick base may be the way to go.
Creating an entryway inviting to buyers
Once you’ve addressed all the problematic areas of your yard, you can now turn your attention to your entranceway. These areas include the:
- porch
- door
- front stairs
- railings
- address number
Check all the areas mentioned above for disrepair. Consider adding fresh paint to the front door. If there’s a metal finish on your door, you should consider replacing it. Adding a welcome mat and new, colorful cushions to the sitting area in your garden or porch will allow your potential buyers to feel welcome.
You can also add hanging plants at the front door to generate a welcoming atmosphere.
The worst thing that can happen when selling your house is your potential buyer cannot find it. So if the house numbers are worn out, it’s time to replace them.
Hopefully, these tips on improving curb appeal should help if you’re getting your home ready to sell or if you want to enhance the look of your property. Making the right choices can have your house off the market in record time. For more information on how to set up your curb appeal, feel free to contact us at Sheridan Solomon & Associates.