Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal
Make it Easy to Find
Your house numbers are easy to read and clearly visible. Nothing is more frustrating than having to drive down a street several times trying to find the right house. You should also paint or replace your mailbox and remove your name from the outside of it.
Overall Appearance:
Cleanliness is essential. Start by removing any clutter. Stow away any unnecessary garden implements and tools and keep the yard free of any toys and debris. Next, power wash anything that stands still including the deck, siding, sidewalks, driveway, and roof. You will also want to kill any mold and mildew. Finally, touch up or repaint the exterior including the shutters, decks, and siding. Do not forget about any exterior sheds or other buildings. They should be fixed up or replaced as well.
Driveways and Sidewalks:
If your driveway is concrete, make sure that you repair them. Unfortunately, filled cracks will always show because it is impossible to match colors exactly, but a repaired crack will be less noticeable and look better than an unrepaired crack. This also goes for your sidewalk. If your driveway is asphalt, recoat it with asphalt sealer (after you have power washed it). If your driveway looks shiny and new, your house will look better.
Landscaping:
Mow the lawn regularly. Get rid of any weeds. Rake and dispose of leaves, even if your lot is wooded. Edging your sidewalk and driveways and remove vegetation growing between concrete and bricks will give things a more manicured appearance. Prune all overgrown bushes and trees, especially those that are near or touching the home’s roof. You want to make your house appear in good condition, not as if it has been suffering from neglect.
Flowerbeds should be freshly mulched and clear of any withered or dying flowers. Consider adding a potted plant or flower boxes to the front entrance. Also, you need to remove any landscaping features that might detract from your home. Buyers can have a difficult time visualizing changes and are not generally interested in buying a home that will need work.
Front Door:
Your front door will be the first thing that a potential buyer sees as they enter the house. If your door is plain or unattractive, consider replacing it with a more attractive one. Consider installing one with leaded glass inserts that will allow more light into the entryway. If you cannot justify the cost of a new door, you should at least apply a new coat of paint and replace any rusted or scratched hardware. This includes the doorknob, locks, doorknocker, and doorbell. Other hardware should be polished and in good working order. Make sure your door is easy to open. Fiddling with a sticky lock or shoving open a tight door will make the buyer wonder what else is wrong with the house.
Night Appeal:
A potential buyer might not get the opportunity to check out a home until after work, so it is important that the front of your home is lighted and appealing at night. Consider adding solar lighting along your driveway, sidewalks, and near any important landscaping features. You front porch should have light features that are clean, shiny and in good working order. Also, make sure any lighting that is visible through your doors and windows will enhance your home’s appearance.
Once you have completed these tasks, imagine you are a potential buyer and drive up to your home. Look at your home with a critical eye and fix anything you can. Straighten or replace any loose or bent gutters and make sure they are clean. You never know when it might rain and you do not want a buyer to see your gutters overflowing. Fix any loose shutters. Make sure the railings are sturdy and freshly painted. While these details might seem small, they can go a long way in helping you sell your home quickly for the right amount of money.
