If you are looking to sell your home, improving your home’s exterior and its curb appeal may be the most important thing you can do. The way your home looks from the outside will affect whether potential buyers want to book a showing, or whether they want to come inside if you are having an Open House.
Sometimes it is hard to be objective about your own home. Once you are used to the way your house looks, it is difficult to spot problem areas. A good trick is to take a photograph of the outside of your home to see if you can spot areas that need some attention. You can also ask your Realtor or friend to look at the photos with you and point out details you could be overlooking.
When it comes to curb appeal, you can do most of the projects yourself with a minimum budget. If your home needs some specific attention however, your may require the help of a pro. Budget accordingly, but you will find that the efforts are worth it.
Follow this list of 13 “To Do’s” to ensure you make the best first impression on visiting potential buyers:
1. Power wash the exterior, windows and gutters. Rent or borrow a power washer to get any dirt, grime or mould off of your siding, decks and even sidewalks. Get at the cobwebs under the eaves and don’t forget your garage door. Follow up with a soapy cleaner on your windows to make the house sparkle from the outside.
2. Perform routine maintenance. Nothing looks worse on a house than sagging gutters, cracked windows or missing bricks or stones from steps or walkways. Before inviting potential buyers to view your home, reseal cracked asphalt, repoint bricks that have lost their mortar, straighten shutters and replace cracked windows. It will do wonders for the look of your home!
3. Mow your lawn, pick out weeds, detail trees and shrubs, edge flower beds, rake leaves. Tree branches should not obstruct the view of your home should potential buyers drive by. If you mow the lawn, rake the leaves and edge around sidewalks and flower beds, the yard will start to look well manicured.
4. Get rid of dead plants, shrubs or trees and spread fresh topsoil or mulch over flower and plant beds to even out the grade. Removing dead or overgrown plants can sometimes have just as much positive impact as adding something new. Take a good look at the state of your beds and see if you should de-clutter there too.
5. De-clutter. Just like inside your house, you want the outside to be welcoming for buyers. So put away the gardening tools, your bike and your kid’s red wagon. Buyers want to imagine how they could live in your home – not see how YOU live in it.
6. Repaint the front door and touch up paint trim. Keep your colour palette simple. Major hardware stores have pre-selected outdoor colour palettes in the paint section that are chosen and tested by professional designers. Choose one that complements the colouring of your home’s elements that cannot be painted – such as brick, stone or vinyl siding colour.
7. Replace old hardware. Aside from the doorknobs, you should also consider replacing your house numbers and mailbox. If your home currently has a mix-and-match of different pieces, you are missing out on easily adding style to your entrance. Pick out your light fixtures, door hardware, house numbers and mailbox in the same finish for the best effect.
8. Fix broken or deteriorating railings and fences. If not treated properly, wood railings and fences can deteriorate quickly. If yours are damaged or looking worn you can replace some of the spindles or boards, or you may have to do a complete overhaul. Either way, a fresh paint job at the end will tie the project together beautifully.
Hanging baskets and potted plants add colour and interest to this otherwise plain entrance.
9. Add potted plants or shrubs. No matter the time of year, potted plants are a great way to add colour and interest to your front yard. You can put them on your porch, going down the steps or even in your flower beds.
10. Add a Welcome mat, swag or wreath. Make sure the decor outside matches the decor inside but any of these elements will add a welcoming touch for your visitors.
11. Take special care of outdoor lighting. Interested buyers will often drive by your home in the evening so ensure your home looks as inviting in the dark as it does in the day. Add an attractive light fixture on the front porch or on the front lawn and keep the light on in the evenings. Also, ensure that interior lights visible from the outside complement the inside of your home.
12. Install a new front door. If budget allows and your current front door is old and tired, investing in a new one is worth the cost. It’s the first thing buyers will “use” in your home and if it opens and closes easily – and looks good too – it will leave a great first impression. If installing a new door is not an option, consider replacing the old doorknob hardware or simply polishing it.
13. Inspect the condition of your roof. This is one of the first things that potential buyers look at when visiting a home. Depending on your budget, you may either pay for this repair before selling, or take a reduced price on your home. Buyers will ask about the age of the roof and the home inspector will certainly look at its condition.
As a home seller, if you want a definite edge on selling your home quickly and for more, take the necessary time and effort to add some curb appeal. It is the first impression to potential home buyers that you will not be able to make again.
Do you have any additional tips for adding curb appeal for home sellers? Please share them here.
If you are looking to buy a home, or are thinking of selling yours, I would be glad to represent you and help you negotiate the best deal. Please contact me at steve@stevewalsh.ca.
