Creating a Little Curb Appeal

You're selling your home, and you know you need to perk up its curb appeal, but you're low on free time and funds. There are a few simple, and affordable projects you can take on to step up your curb game and increase your chances of a sale. Attracting buyers to your home is a necessary part of your sale, so take a minute to hammer out some quick upgrades to give your home the best first impression.

Just a little paint—not a lot.Freshly painted shutters and a new coat on the front and side doors of your home can add a striking vibrancy that your potential buyers can see from the street. Visit your local hardware or paint store and talk with a professional about the best paint to cover your wood or vinyl fixtures. When selecting a color consider the best hues to pleasantly contrast or compliment your home’s exterior colors and any natural stone or brick accents. Before you start, clean off all dirt and grime from your door and shutter surfaces, tape off or remove any hardware possible, then get to painting! In just a few hours and a couple of cans of paint, you can accomplish a huge visual change.

Tighten up your existing landscaping. Take an upcoming weekend day and spend a little time manicuring your yard. Give your trees and bushes some attention, rake up the leaves and remove any dead plants. Mow and trim your lawn all the way to the curb. If there are any empty lots or uncared for median spaces near your home maybe take an extra minute and clean up the appeal around your house as well. With an additional day or another weekend, if you have time before your open house, extend your landscaping to cleaning up your driveway. Sweep the drive thoroughly and consider renting a pressure washer to remove any unsightly oil stains. Finally, get up to those gutters. Clean and well-maintained gutters are a good sign to your buyers that you care for your home and have taken the time to maintain it and keep it in good condition for future inhabitants.

Add even more life with planters and flowers. With a small investment, you can add even more color and appeal to your home with a few planters, pots, and hanging baskets. Find plants and containers that complement the design of your home and add both brightness and hominess to your street view.

Lighting and more lighting. Make it easy for your buyers to see your home and attract them to your door with enhanced lighting. Many home buyers drive past homes they see listed online before they come to the open house. Frequently this is after work and during a dusky or dark time of day. Make your window shoppers want to return for the open house with cleaned up lighting. Clean up or replace your porch light, add a new bright bulb and talk to your local hardware store about the best options for adding lighting to your drive and walkways.

As you get ready for your open house, work with your real estate professional to design the best and most cost-effective ways to step up your curb appeal.