How Curb Appeal Can Be Boosted Before You Sell

As a seller, you only get a small window to impress house hunters. This is why curb appeal is vital.

Curb appeal is the first impression potential buyers get of your house; it is how your house looks from the outside. It is a primary determinant of how much a buyer is willing to pay for a house.

Improving curb appeal might sound like an expensive and time-consuming undertaking, but it does not have to be. Any effort that goes towards giving your house a facelift goes a long way in improving value (or perceived value).

Statistics

Even the smallest faults in a home’s exterior can put off a buyer. On the other hand, having high curb appeal can improve your home’s value by up to 7% according to a study conducted by a business professor at the University of Texas. This means that in a few seconds, curb appeal can mean the difference between getting a great selling price for your home, getting undercut, and not selling it at all.

On that note, here are steps you can take to improve your curb appeal without breaking the bank!

Add Some Color

Curb appeal is all about appearance and a few things are more visually appealing than a great paint job. Picking hues and shades that complement the structure and environment of your house is important. A buyer attracted to how your house is from the outside will be interested in what it looks like on the inside.

Your preferred colors shouldn’t be too shouting so as not to highlight any of the house’s flaws. They shouldn’t be too muted either because then your house won’t catch a buyer’s eye. Your target should be a friendly, peaceful appearance.

Most houses will only need a fresh lick of paint to get the color aspect covered – pun intended. Get a bucket of paint or two and take care of any peeling or faded paint. Re-do your front door and the house numbers making them visible. Change up the size, design, and font styles if need be. Take care of the fence and you can even get a new coat for your porch and front steps. Anything to get your house look fresh.

Focusing on color is a great starting point when improving curb appeal and does not hurt your finances depending on the house’s current state.

Do Some Landscaping

If you have some flowers in your yard then you know exactly how beautiful it gets in spring when they are in bloom. This is bound to attract buyers to your property. Proper landscaping is important in increasing curb appeal.

However, it is worth remembering that it will not always be spring so it is advisable to diversify the plants in regards to bloom time so that your yard looks attractive all year round.

A well-taken care of yard indicates to prospective buyers that the interior is well manicured as well.

Don’t Forget the Roof

As a homeowner, you probably rarely (if ever) think about your roof. However, it is one of the first things a prospective buyer will look at. The state of your roof has a great implication on the value buyers and appraisers will place on your home.

Even before the structural state is assessed, however, your roof still needs to look appealing. Extending the eaves and adding windowed dormers works wonders but might be expensive for some. Consider starting simple – make sure your roof is clean and structurally sound.

The Garage Doors

Garage doors are like a big ‘look at me’ sign. They are often a prominent feature on the front of houses and play a huge role in their general appearance. Most garage doors are left in the state in which they were installed which is normally an uninspiring design. Consider improving your garage doors in a way that complements the rest of your house while adding an extra design element.

Exterior Lighting

Most sellers make the mistake of assuming that prospective buyers only go house hunting when the sun is out. You may have a gorgeous house that goes completely unappreciated to anyone that visits when it’s dark due to poor or non-existent lighting.

So, where should you start? Replace any broken lights and install new ones where none existed and should. Add a front door light and invest in some lighting for your porch or front step. Ensure that the lamp and bulb holders are freshly painted as well.

Pressure Washing the Exterior

Make sure everything looks clean! After making all possible modifications to your home’s exterior, do not forget one of the most obvious to increase curb appeal – cleaning. Pressure-wash all exterior surfaces to make them look and feel as good as new. That will surely improve curb appeal.

Add Some Symmetry

The human brain is attracted to symmetry. You are naturally drawn to visually balanced things. Why not apply this to your home and attract all sorts of buyers to your property?

It is not just about adding things. You can remove things that seem out of place or rearrange existing items in a pattern that makes visual sense. Arranging lights, plants, and even your landscaping in a symmetrical manner can go a long way in improving the curb appeal of your house.

Is it Worth It?

These few steps can take your house value from an okay price to a very good price offers from interested buyers. Appearance is everything. While some actions require a little investment, the money you spend on improving the curb appeal will be recouped once you close on the house sale. Happy selling!

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