Let Your Home's Curb Appeal Invite Buyers In
Curb appeal - a catch phrase used by realtors. When a potential buyer sees your house for the first time it is usually when they ride by, or pull up to the curb. Their first impression of your home is based on its curb appeal, which can possibly make or break a sale. If your lawn is a mess and the planting beds are full of dead plants the buyers will move on. If your porch looks like a storage place for junk you can be sure they won't bother looking at the inside. You can use my 5 Easy Ways to Update Your Home's Curb Appeal to entice buyers into your home.
If your home has a nice green and neatly cut front yard, that's a positive. If your planting beds are weed free with colorful flowering plants and your front porch is clean and well maintained, more positives. If your front door catches their eye and your shutters look brand new, lots more positives. All of those positives will draw the buyers in. Let's get started with 5 Easy Ways to Update Your Home's Curb Appeal. Every thing you do to improve the curb appeal of your home will put your home into potential buyers' minds and memories.
1. Lawn - Make sure your lawn is mowed weekly, or more often during heavy growth spurts, like after a rain. Clean up any mess on the walkway. There is nothing more unattractive that to walk on a sidewalk covered in dried grass clippings. Weed eating along the walkway, driveway and planting beds is all part of maintaining your lawn. Everything needs to look as close to perfect as you can make it. Bare spots, be sure to use some grass seed to fill in. If you own a dog, clean up after him immediately!
2. Planting Beds - Remove all dead plants and replace them. $25 worth of new flowering plants can add $1,000's of dollars in value. After planting your flowers, use mulch for weed control and to help retain moisture. Try to use flowers that will add eye appeal and go good with your house and trim colors. If you don't know what to plant ask the knowledgeable man at your local garden center for help.
3. Front Porch - If you have a front porch you have the perfect opportunity to showcase your home. Make sure the porch is clean; hose it down to remove dirt and grime. Porch furniture needs to be fresh looking and inviting. Nothing says 'homey' better than a front porch swing. Make sure to have a few potted plants for color; one on either side of the door would look great. Do not leave the dog's food or water bowls or the cat's litter box on the front porch when you are expecting potential buyers.
4. Front Door - If your door is old and no longer as functional as it should be, by all means spend a little money for a new one. If you can't do that, repair and paint the old one. I love the look of a red door on a gray house. If your house is beige a burgundy or green color would look fantastic. If your door has glass in it, make sure that glass is spotless. If your door is wooden with not a lot of character then add a large wreath for color and drama.
5. Shutters - You don't see too many homes without shutters. The problem with those vinyl shutters is that they fade fast. After a few years bright colored shutters become dull and drab. There are kits for restoring the shutters, but they are costly and time consuming to use. The simple fix is to buy a few cans of spray paint. You can use the same color or switch to something different. Pop the shutters off and spray paint them. The paint dries fast and within no time and little expense your shutters will look brand new.
None of these ideas cost a lot of money, but they will require some of your time and a little money. To get your house sold you need to invest a little of each. Remember, those potential buyers walk up to your porch and through your front door. That is the first thing they see. When they leave they walk back out through that same door. Then they walk back to the curb and usually turn around for one last quick look.
Make that last quick look stay in their minds long enough for them to decide that your house is the house for them! They will remember your house if you follow those 5 Easy Ways to Update Your Home's Curb Appeal.
