7 Tips to Increase Your Home’s Curb Appeal
What is curb appeal? It’s that first impression a potential buyer gets when they drive by your home or come by for a showing. Basically, it’s how attractive and appealing your home appears.
This initial reaction is very powerful and important. Good curb appeal can maximize the value of your property; it can lead to speedier sales; some even say it’s the single most important aspect of the home sale puzzle.
Sprucing up your home’s exterior doesn’t have to cost a fortune, but it will take elbow grease, some time, and an eye for details. The Seay Realty Group compiled this list of curb appeal points to address. Aim for a home that looks clean, neat and fresh to potential buyers.
PAINT THE FRONT DOOR: for this most time-tested method of increasing curb appeal, give your front door a fresh coat of paint. Contrasting door colors are trending in 2018. Browse the internet to get color ideas ( Color of the Year: Benjamin Moore, HGTV, Pantone, or Sherwin Williams.) If the 2018 colors are too vibrant for your taste, or don’t go with your home’s current color, tone it down. Just think contrast (i.e. if your home is white, don’t paint your door white!) And if your door’s paint job is in good shape, a good scrubbing & polishing will remove the dullness left behind by winter weather.
TRIM THE TREES & SHRUBS: You may need to call a professional for this one if you lack the skills or equipment. Neat trees and shrubs make your home look cared for.
ADD MULCH: It gives your home a finished, cared-for look, discourages weeds, and adds to the health of your plants. Again, consider your home’s color to choose a mulch that enhances it.
KEEP YOUR LAWN MOWED: a neat, tidy front lawn is a must. If your lawn needs a shot of green, check with your local nursery for advice. Remember to edge along sidewalks and driveways.
OUTDOOR LIGHT FIXTURES: If your porch lighting says 1990, update your light fixtures to a style that screams 2018! Your local handyman can easily replace your outdoor fixtures and doing so will give your home an instant face lift. If you opt to keep your current outdoor lights, make certain the glass is clean and shiny and that all bulbs are working.
WINDOWS: No, we aren’t suggesting you replace your windows (although if they’re in horrible condition …. )!! However, be sure to fix what needs fixing (broken seals (windows look foggy), cracks, torn screens) and make sure your windows are sparkling clean!
NEATEN AND NEUTRALIZE: Keep the kids toys put away, check your lawn regularly for debris, pick up mail and newspapers daily, keep the porch swept and tidy. Remove items that could be off-putting to a potential buyer: college flags (what if they’re die-hard fans of the other team?), garden gnomes, ridiculous yard art, outrageous holiday decorations, spirit signs.
The Seay Realty Group can give you additional ideas and resources that will increase your home’s curb appeal. Call us today!
