Make an Entrance: Curb Appeal for Attracting Home Buyers

We’ve all heard the phrase don’t judge a book by its cover and applied it to many of life’s situations. But when you’re selling a house, you may as well forget the meaning of this phrase because it doesn’t apply here. It is just the opposite, in fact. Be extremely judgmental about the appearance of the home you want to sell. All potential buyers will be and it all starts with the exterior.

Passer-by’s who noticed the For Sale sign from the intersection and decided to go down your street are judging your home before they even step out of the car to take a flyer. This is why you must put yourself in their shoes and look at the house as if it were the first time you’ve ever seen it. Leave the house, walk across the street and see what they see. Detach yourself of any emotional memories tied to the house and evaluate it from a completely 3rd party, objectional point of view.

Pinpoint what aspects of the outside bring down the overall appearance of the house and find solutions to those problem places. Now be creative. Visualize what can be added or modified to improve it’s appearance and appeal to more home buyers. The goal is to attract as many visitors to open house as possible and an inviting exterior will often times peak interest. Here are some pointers about what you can do to give your home maximum curb appeal.

Gardening

Even if you don’t have the dollars to invest in professional landscaping, there are few things you can do to ensure the front yard is presentable. Are the hoses neatly coiled or put away? A rack for the hoses may be worth installing. Are there any plants that can be pruned for an improved appearance? Prune any foliage that has grown out of control and kill any grass growing between cracks in the concrete. Mow the lawn and add edging, mulch, and a few flowers to the garden beds. Concentrate mostly around the entrance. A potted plant or two surrounding the front door adds to the exterior. Solar and spot lights could also line the walkway or light up trees and bushes.

The Porch & Front Door

In addition to adding potted plants, you may also want to consider adding outdoor furniture depending on the size and shape of the front porch. A couple of chairs with a small table in between should do the trick. You may also choose to upgrade the lighting fixtures for an enhanced look, but regardless of whether or not you decide to purchase new lighting, always, always, always paint the front door. Never pass on a fresh coat of paint for the front door because it is the focal point of the exterior and one of the first things potential buyers will come into contact with when touring the home for the first time. The last thing you want is their first impression of the home to be negatively perceived before they’ve even crossed the threshold. Replace the front door’s hardware if necessary and hang a tasteful wreath for decorative display of the current season. Make sure address numbers look good and are visible.

Paint, Windows and Gutters

You would be surprised what a difference a new paint job can make on a house that’s due for one. Choose a color that appeals to a wide range of tastes and styles and consult a paint color expert for a color scheme that suits your house. Power wash dirty siding and clean out gutters for a well-maintained look as well as clean the windows inside and out.

Contact us for more tips and advice for selling your home.