Most homeowners are quite clear about the importance of making their home’s interior appealing when trying to sell it. But when faced with selling in a buyer’s market – when homes are selling more slowly – the details of your home’s interior and exterior become more important to attracting potential buyers. If you want to increase the number of buyers who visit your open house or inquire about a showing, take the time to boost your home’s curb appeal.
Curb appeal refers to the exterior attractiveness of your home, the way that your potential buyer sees your home when he first drives past. Curb appeal is the potential homebuyer’s first introduction to your home – a charming and well-kept house helps draw the buyer in. As always, there are key factors that you must keep in mind as you make decisions about which exterior improvements you want to make.
Remove the Rose Colored Glasses
First, begin to look at your home as an investor, and not as a homeowner. As long as you see your house through your sentimental eyes, you run the risk of overlooking the small details that can make a significant difference in whether or not your home sells for your asking price. To gain perspective, put yourself in the potential buyer’s shoes – drive past the house to see what homebuyers see when they do the same; stand across the street to get a good look at the house at a distance; and do either of these activities in the evening, as many homebuyers also do. Identify any flaws or potential turn-offs in your home’s exterior.
Bring Maintenance Up To Date
After you’ve gained some perspective, begin basic cleaning and brush up on the mundane tasks that you may have neglected. Remove any tools or children’s toys from the yard – rakes, gardening tools, children’s swimming pool and bikes - then, get to work:
• Mow the lawn and manicure the edges and the grass around the mailbox;
• Trim tree limbs and shape up any shrubbery;
• Remove grass and weeds growing in the driveway, the sidewalk and any other walk ways;
• Power wash dingy vinyl siding, windows, porches, steps and decks;
• Clear gutters and finally,
• De-clutter, clean and organize your garage.
How’s Your Green?
Next, add elements to make your lot more attractive. Begin with the greenery.
• If grass is not lush, thick and green – make a decision to either invest in materials (grass seed, fertilizer, etc.) to make the lawn more attractive, consider purchasing sod or hire a lawn service
• Remove any dead plants or shrubs and replace them with full, healthy, blooming ones
Even if you have to remove some of your greenery, don’t get rid of everything – a bare landscape is not very warm and inviting, and will encourage potential homeowners to drive right past your property.
Spruce It Up
Another important element is your home’s exterior hardware. What needs to be changed or replaced? Minor changes can make a big difference:
• A good stain may help spruce up the deck
• A porch swing and/or some sleek and stylish front porch furniture can add charm and give your front porch a stronger sense of home
• Line your sidewalks and driveway with lighting for a more enchanting look
• Consider paving or re-paving your driveway
• Replace broken window panes and consider adding storm windows
• Replace your mailbox if it is old, dingy or outdated
The Main Course
Potential homeowners are going to be looking at more than the property – remember to look at the house itself. If the color of your house looks old, outdated and/or drab, you can start with a couple coats of paint to freshen it up. But this process, whether done on your own or by a professional, can be a time-consuming headache – as an alternative, vinyl siding is easily installed and offers a more uniform look. Not only will it transform the cosmetic appeal of your home, vinyl siding is a selling point with your potential buyers – most will be pleased to know that this virtually maintenance-free product will save energy and lower the cost of their monthly energy bills.
While paint will fade and chip, vinyl siding will resist the impact of daily sun exposure, changing temperatures and weather. In years to come, the new homeowners can simply use a hose to keep up the appearance of the house’s exterior, rather than spending time scraping and repainting or replacing rotten boards.
Fine Tuning
Another obvious stand-out of your home’s structure is the windows, which must be very clean, and the same goes for the glass on the front door. Also, take a good look around your front door. It is the focal point of the front of your house, and potential buyers’ eyes will be drawn to it. Could it use a fresh coat of paint or a new knocker? Also, upgrading the light fixtures at your front door will make for a more dramatic entrance and can make your home more inviting, especially at night.
Remember the Little Things
The last element to consider are the final touches. Though the goal is to present your home at its absolute best, you do want the property to look as if someone lives there. You can have a bike in the front yard, or leave the basketball goal up in the back yard. If you have a grill, leave it out on your deck. Be sure to err on the side of caution with these accents – don’t overdo it.
If you evaluate and take action on these elements, you will make your home more attractive to buyers, and keep them coming by until you find the right one – whether the market is on your side or not.
