Improve your home’s curb appeal
Getting a prospective buyer in through the front door can be the most important part of a home sale. And to a large extent, all you have to do is create an attractive exterior home design to make this happen.
The notion that first impressions are everything in most interactions is no secret. When it comes to the real estate business, the image that a prospective buyer gets of a property can make or break the sale. Yet it can be something as minor as your choice of architectural shingles that makes the difference.
There are a number of simple ways to improve your property’s curb appeal and keep you from losing a customer merely because of a poor image. Let’s have a look at five.
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1. Refine the home’s exterior with some fresh paint
Paint won’t cost you much at just about $25 a gallon. But the impact it will have on your home’s curb appeal may just be the thing that makes the potential buyer pull up to your home and get out of the car. Essentially, you must give the buyer reason to leave the car. Otherwise they will simply glance through the window and drive on.
People show more interest in properties that appear turn-key. No one wants to buy a home that they still have to spend money and time painting or sodding. You are much more likely to sell quickly if your property gives the buyer the impression that he can move in immediately after they are done with the paperwork.
The window trim, shutters and, most importantly, the front door require the freshest look they can get. You owe them that. Whatever colors you choose, always make sure they complement your exterior home design as a whole – especially the street-facing side.
Related Reading: How to Price Your Home to Sell
2. Spruce it up with a hardware update
Small details like the house numbers, railings on the stairs, window boxes, and shutters can have an enormous impact on a home’s curb appeal. If the house numbers look dull, why not change them?
Consider installing house numbers that have a visually appealing color. The visual appeal should be obvious from across the street. Anything that looks dirty or is difficult to see should be replaced.
This also includes the mailbox, whether it’s wall-mounted or on the outside space. Something like a porch light can be easy to skip as you think of improving your exterior design, but it adds quite a bit of interest to the property. Make sure they are not dated.
It’s definitely an advantage for you if all of this hardware on your home’s exterior matches in terms of color and design
3. Trim the trees and shrubs in your yard
Your house may have beautiful 3-tab shingles on top, but that’s just not enough. Buyers need to be able to see the rest of your home’s exterior design to really develop an interest.
If the façade is obscured by shrubs and trees, then the house may not capture the attention of buyers. Expose the best features of the house so they are clearly visible from across the street. Trim all overgrown shrubbery and tree branches. Doing so will also give the impression that your house is well kept and that’s good for business.
In addition, consider lighting up the landscape by installing solar light fixtures along the edges of each walkway. Solar lighting is inexpensive but gets the job done pretty well.
4. Plant some greenery
Verdant plants will inject life into your home’s façade. Greens are a great way to spruce up your exteriors a little bit. This is where you should think of bringing the interiors outside. There are a variety of garden and succulent plants that will inject fresh life into your house’s outside space in a way that appeals to buyers. Consider introducing porch containers and fill them with a variety of colorful flowers and plants. This will give your property an instant facelift.
5. Consider the roof from a buyer’s perspective
Though easily overlooked, the roof has immense power to make or break your home’s curb appeal. What’s a house without a roof anyway? Notice that the roof plays a primary role in regulating how warm or cold the rooms feel. They receive direct heating from the sun and may pass it into the house or reflect it back into the atmosphere.
Most buyers may care about these considerations. Cheap looking roofing materials will not appeal to buyers. But roofing materials that look attractive and well maintained are sure to draw in many buyers than you might comprehend.
The rule is simple: look at your house through the eyes of the buyer. Would you want to live in the house? If you aren’t sure of your objectivity, then always think of getting a second opinion.
Contact me if you’d like to get a personal staging consulting to prepare your home for sale or if you are wondering how much your home is NOW?
Related Reading: Home Selling Frequently Asked Questions
