“Let’s pass on this one”, is the last thing you want potential buyers to say when they pull up in front of your house. And you know what, that really happens! I have had several buyers cancel appointments to view a home at the last minute before they even take one step in the door. Why you ask? Because if a home lacks curb appeal, it turns off buyers before they even get out of the car.
What is curb appeal? Curb appeal just means how attractive your home is from the sidewalk. The world of real estate can be tough and if your house doesn’t look it’s best on the outside, some buyers won’t take the time to look inside.
So if you are in the market to sell your home, here are 8 ways to boost your home’s curb appeal and ensure you never miss a potential buyer.
1. Think green. Your home will look beautiful and inviting if you have a green, lush front yard. It’s easy, just water the lawn and the flower beds regularly. If the sprinkler system doesn’t work, get it fixed. This will will be one less thing for the home inspector to find wrong with your home. If you don’t have a sprinkler system, you can always buy an inexpensive hose and sprinkler at Lowe’s. While you’re there, make sure to pick up some ammonium nitrate which is an inexpensive lawn fertilizer, guaranteed to turn your lawn green in no time at all.
2. Rake the lawn and weed the flower beds. General front yard upkeep is important and that includes the little things like your flower beds. Plant fresh flowers if the old ones are looking a little tired. You can pick some up at your local nursery or Home Depot store. Also take the time to trim back overgrown trees and shrubs. You want to keep your front yard not only looking alive and well, but also well maintained and clean.
3. Rework your gardening schedule. If you have a gardener, have them start coming once a week instead of every other week. And changing your regular gardening day to Friday will help as well because most buyers look at homes on the weekend. You don’t want your yard starting to looking shabby by the time potential buyers come around. If you don’t have a gardener, consider hiring one. It’s not very expensive, typically $60-$80 a month, especially considering you will only be using one until you sell your house which will be quicker if it looks great. Check with your neighbors, you will probably get a better deal if they are already working on the yard right next door.
4. Declutter. Make sure all the kids toys are put away and not left lying all over the place. Also be sure bicycles, skateboards, and scooters aren’t lying around in the driveway or parked on the walk way. It’s not just toys that need to be cleared away, make sure there aren’t any muddy soccer shoes greeting buyers at the front door. Finally, if your family takes off their shoes before entering your home, consider putting a shoe rack like this one at the front door while your home is for sale.
5. If you have a doormat, replace it. Yes, even if you already have a doormat you should get a new one. Unless you replace your welcoming mat regularly, they get old, discolored and make your home increasingly less welcoming. One that says “Welcome to our home” could add a nice touch. You can pick up a nice one at Lowe’s for as low as $20.
6. Clean the driveway. How does the driveway look? Nice and clean or dirty and stained. If it’s the latter, that’s sure to turn off buyers. Don’t worry though, there’s a simple fix and it’s called a pressure washer. If your friends or family don’t have one you can borrow, you can rent one from Home Depot for about $70. Check out this video to see just how effective it is, and how easy it is to use. Don’t forget the walkway and the front porch.
7. Sweep. Take a broom to the walkway, driveway, and front porch if needed before buyers arrive. While you’re at it, go ahead get rid of any unsightly cobwebs hanging around the front door. It’s the details that can make a difference. You don’t usually notice the little things because you see them every day, but the buyers will notice right away.
8. Clean the windows, inside and out. Clean windows are one of those things that go unnoticed, unless they’re dirty. Don’t let dirty windows undo everything else you’ve done creating that great appeal. And while you’re cleaning the windows, take a close look at those screens. Do they need to be hosed off? Are any of them in need of repair?
Remember, it’s always best to make a good first impression!