8 Incredible Tips for Increasing Curb Appeal From The Professionals!
Ever been haunted by a home?
When you’re trying to sell your home, it can be months or even years before it sells. Often, the stress that comes from this process can haunt your days, nights, and everything in between.
The solution to this is to sell your home more quickly by increasing its curb appeal. Unfortunately, many people don’t know what to do to bring out the true beauty of their house.
That’s why I consulted with curb appeal pros across the country. Keep reading to discover the secrets they shared with us!
1. Better Online Photos
We put together a solid list of things that can boost your home’s curb appeal. But none of it will mean anything if you aren’t taking great photos of your house for its online listing.
Inside the home, you’ll want shots of clean, uncluttered rooms with a touch of sunlight. Keep in mind that too much light can ruin a shot.
Outside the home, try to capture some dynamic shots of things like your front door, your garage, etc. Think about what buyers will want to look at in person and give them an online preview. Ultimately, they want a good view, both inside and out.
If all the photography makes your head spin, we recommend hiring a professional photographer. Most people view online photos as the first step of the buying process, so hiring a pro is worth it!
2. Jazz Up the Door
A door is more than just a piece of wood. It’s the portal that transports prospective buyers from outside of your home to the mysteries of the interior.
“Buyers will often stand at the front door for a couple of minutes while the agent gets the key out of the lockbox,” Kris Lindahl notes. “Make those moments count.”
You can build buyer interest and anticipation by jazzing up the front door. For example, you may consider painting it in a bright color such as red.(Bonus: Bold front door looks are trending big-time right now.)
Another great choice is to have a custom wood door created by local artisans. And you can top that look off with a tasteful natural wreath or add bold symmetrical planters for a luxe look.
By the time they get to the door, buyers will be dying to know what is inside.
3. New Coat of Paint
The door isn’t the only thing that can use a new coat of paint. In fact, we recommend giving the entire exterior of your home a new paint job if possible.
One benefit of doing this is that you can update the colors of the home to a more modern style. This reassures buyers that the inside of the home will not look old and outdated.
And a new paint job helps your home stand out from others in the neighborhood. This can really boost curb appeal in the suburbs where many of the homes tend to look alike.
4. Become the Buyer
Most of the time you are going to be thinking like a seller. However, it’s very beneficial to spend a day thinking like a buyer.
The buyer will be looking for any negative qualities that make them either walk away or try to negotiate a better price. It is these negative things that you will be attempting to find.
All you need is a notebook and some time. Walk around the inside and outside of your home and be brutally honest about what you see.
This may include foundation cracks, chipping paint, a yard prone to flooding, and so on. Consider this list your “to do list:” you will now focus on fixing as much of this as your budget allows.
5. Hardware Upgrade
When we think about a home looking old, most people think about things like chipping paint and ugly wallpaper. However, the hardware of your home’s exterior is the area you should be really concerned about.
A buyer’s eyes are instantly drawn to things like your mailbox, your house numbers, your locks, and so on. And if sellers don’t focus on these things, it can make the house look worn down well before anyone steps foot inside.
As a bonus, replacing these things is easy and costs very little money. That’s the kind of curb appeal ROI we get excited about!
6. Light It Up
Want to know what exterior feature buyers care about the most? It’s actually exterior lighting.
Such lighting provides added convenience for those who will be coming or going from their house at night. And the lighting also serves as a kind of deterrent for thieves that rely on the darkness to conceal their criminal activity.
Our advice? Go ahead and snag some exterior lighting. It makes your home more attractive to buyers and lets you enjoy the convenience of the lights until you sell.
Plus, some lighting can help you take more dynamic outside photos for your online listings.
7. Rinse the Roof
When a prospective buyer visits your home, they are going to look at everything. And that means they are going to be looking up at your roof.
It can be annoying to clean your roof or replace some shingles. And it can be very expensive to replace an old roof with a new one.
Nonetheless, a roof that’s new (or at least looks new) is one of the best ways to attract prospective buyers. It goes to show that “curb appeal” extends far beyond the curb!
8. Grow Big or Go Home
Prospective home buyers love the appearance of a garden. However, many sellers don’t have the time or skill to grow a large garden in their front yard.
The solution is quite simple. You can buy container gardens from your local garden center and immediately spruce up your home’s exterior.
Even if you don’t have a green thumb, these gardens are basically foolproof. And you can buy as many as you need to create an organic and inviting appearance.
Another fantastic way to freshen up your front yard is by putting down fresh mulch and adding easy-to-care-for plants. In particular, ornamental grasses, bushy lavender, and salvia plants—all of which are drought-tolerant and affordable, and make a dramatic pop against dark mulch.
The end result is “an elegant and polished statement,” Armentrout says
Advice From Curb Appeal Pros: The Bottom Line
Now you have advice straight from the curb appeal pros. But do you know who can help get your home sold more quickly?
Craig specializes in selling on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. And I am ready to make sure that your old home will “haunt” you no more.
To see what a difference a helping-hand can make for your sale, contact me today!