The Importance of Curb Appeal and How to Get It
The outside of your home plays a huge part in how a potential buyer will view it, but it can be overlooked by homeowners as they often are more focused on the interior spaces in their homes.
I love this photo because it covers all of the suggestions I typically make to my clients about how to improve and maximize the curb appeal of their homes. It can’t be stressed enough just how important the appearance of the exterior of your home is when selling your property.
As buyers search for their next home online, listing photos will determine the homes that will make their list of properties to tour. If the photos show a lovely manicured yard and a home that is well cared for, chances are excellent that this home will make the cut. If not, it most likely won’t get a second look.
Here are my tried and true tips to create spectacular curb appeal!
Refresh Ground Covers - Filling in areas with sparse gravel or adding a fresh layer of mulch to all garden areas is an easy, cost effective way to add to your curb appeal.
Add Color & Texture to Your Yard - If your yard is looking a bit drab and could use a bit more color or texture, you can easily accomplish this by adding a few well-placed plants. Bring photos of your yard to your local garden center to get advice on finding plants that will thrive in your area and work with your current landscaping.
Neaten Your Existing Landscaping - Pull weeds, trim your shrubs, deadhead flower beds, and prune any low-hanging branches – particularly if they are hanging over walkways and covering windows. A well-manicured yard is always very appealing to buyers, so make sure this is among the top tasks on your list.
Hide Your Trash Cans - If you store your trash and recycling bins in your front yard or in a side yard that is visible from the street or parking area, this is definitely affecting your curb appeal. You do not want your potential buyers to see your trash cans as soon as they arrive at your house. If you have no place to hide them outside out of sight, put them in your garage.
Paint/Stain your front door - Your front door is an important aspect of your home’s character. Apart from your yard, this is where buyers’ first impressions are formed of what they can expect to find inside. Color choice is of prime importance here. You could choose sophisticated black, a welcoming blue or a wood stain. Whichever color you choose, a fresh coat of paint or stain is going to make your front door more attractive and is a big step in enhancing curb appeal.
Create a seating area - Many of us do the majority of our outdoor living in our backyards. But creating an area in your front yard can be inviting for buyers. This could be as simple as a bench with colorful outdoor throw pillows or a bistro set on your porch, or it could be a complete set of patio furniture if you have the space.
Make any necessary repairs - Aside from clutter or an unkempt yard, there is nothing that hurts your curb appeal quite as much as apparent deferred maintenance. Replace broken or bent window screens, fix dry rot on your eaves, repair and paint fences, and fix cracks in your driveway or walkways. If your budget allows, you might also consider replacing cracked driveways or walkways with paving stones -- this will significantly improve the look of your home.
Repaint your home’s exterior or at least the trim - Repainting your home’s exterior is, obviously, going to significantly affect the overall look of your home. But, if your paint is in pretty good shape or your budget doesn’t allow for a full paint job right now, you can spruce up your home’s exterior by just repainting the trim. If you are somewhat handy, you may even be able to do this home improvement project on your own, which will help you save money while enhancing the visual appeal of your home.
Power wash the driveway, walkway and porch - Doing this will remove dirt, grime and mold from the surface of these areas. It will give these important areas new life.
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