Curb Appeal – What Buyers See and Sellers Don’t
As we live our daily lives, it’s only natural that many tasks related to our homes’ maintenance fall by the wayside. Homeowners often find it difficult to keep a regular schedule of home upkeep-related projects.
We think, “I’ll take care of this next weekend.” And then life happens, and we don’t manage to get around to it. After all, our days are overflowing with work, taking our kids to school, shopping, going to soccer games, dance recitals – well, you get the picture! When do we have time to do much else?
After a while, we no longer see the faded paint, the overgrown yard, or the old, dated light fixtures. When it comes time to sell your home though, it’s important to take stock of its curb appeal.
Because buyers will surely see what we’ve grown accustomed to – the faded paint, overgrown yard and dated light fixtures.
Remember, this is the first impression buyers will have of your home and you don’t want to disappoint. Because this impression could be the difference between a buyer wanting to see the inside of your home or deciding to just drive on to the next house on their list.
Here are just a few tips that are guaranteed to make your home irresistible to buyers:
Stand at the curb and look at the overall appearance of the house – Has the paint seen better days? Does it look faded, chipped, worn? If so, painting may well be in order!
Next, look at the gutters and the roof. If repairs are needed, best to take care of them before the house is listed.
What is the condition of your light fixtures? Are they dated, tired-looking or not working? Then it’s well worth replacing them.
Now, focus on your landscaping. Is the exterior of your home completely visible? If not, work on trimming and/or removing plants that may be blocking windows and growing over your walkways.
Use dark mulch generously to cover exposed dirt in your garden areas – it’s a great, inexpensive way to freshen up a yard.
Add some color to bare garden beds with native blooming plants.
Has the paint or stain on your front door taken a beating from the sun? How about the hardware on your door? If you answer “yes”, paint or re-stain and replace the hardware. Buyers will be studying the front door carefully as they stand on your front porch, waiting for the door to be unlocked. They will be impressed with your attention to these details.
Check your front porch and walkway – if they are dusty and/or stained, time to power wash! When selling your home, it can’t be stressed enough just how important the appearance of the outside of your home is.