Improve Curb Appeal
An easy way to increase your property value is to improve curb appeal. I’ll give you my favorite, easy and budget friendly tips!
For potential buyers to fall in love with your house and make you an offer, you have to get them inside! You’ve got one chance to make that wow first impression, and it starts when they get out of the car. The good news is that its not hard and doesn’t have to break the bank!
Clear the yard
Start by clearing the yard, walkways and driveway of anything that’s not supposed to be there. Put away the extra potting soil, roll up the water hose and get rid of last week’s newspaper. Are there old lawn treatment signs that need to be thrown away? Put the kids toys and bicycles away. Look for broken tree limbs laying on the ground too. If a potential buyer sees clutter outside, they start to picture clutter inside.
Freshen up the landscaping
Next freshen up the lawn and landscaping. Don’t just mow the lawn. Remove anything that is out of season or dead. Trim the trees and bushes especially near the house. Don’t forget to edge along the walkways. Add a pop of seasonal color to a flower bed or with a potted plant near the front door. Make sure to remove all cuttings and leaves. While your home is on the market, you will want to keep this well maintained. If you do not have time to do this yourself, look into a service that will come do it. Make sure they always take away any trimmings and cut grass and not leave them in bags on the curb for trash pickup day.
Paint the front door
Paint the front door a welcoming vibrant color. Don’t just add another coat of paint. You may need to strip it and sand it down to get the best finish. Remove the hardware before you paint, especially the kick plate. You want it neat and well done. If there is glass in the door, make sure it’s not cracked. Be sure to clean it well too. It’s probably a good time to replace the hardware as well. And Buyers love high tech video doorbells! You might want to update the weather stripping around the door. While you’re at it, make sure that it doesn’t stick when opening. This goes a long way to improve curb appeal.
Wash the windows
A quick way to improve curb appeal is to wash the windows inside and out! Make sure there aren’t any streaks or smudges. It makes a dramatic difference. This will also improve the quality of the photos for the listing. If there are screens on the windows, you might want to leave them off, especially if they are not in top notch condition!
Repair wood rot
Repair any wood rot. Potential buyers will assume the house has not been properly maintained if they see this. If the outside looks drab and dated, you may need to paint. At least consider painting any trim or shutters. This is always a hot button for home inspectors, and it scares buyers. If you are painting the exterior, the same contractor can probably do the work.
Replace or spray paint the house numbers to make them look fresh and new. At least make sure they aren’t falling off or missing any numbers.
Replace the Welcome mat
Replace the Welcome mat to improve curb appeal. But make sure it doesn’t have any quirky sayings that may offend someone. Or have a team logo that may turn someone off! You want to appeal to the broadest group of buyers as possible, but you’ve got to get them inside first!
Scoop the poop
I’m sure this goes without saying, but if you have a dog that uses the yard to do his business, please make sure to pick up the evidence! If your neighbor lets their dog use your yard, please have a chat with them!
Freshen up your mailbox
Freshen up your mailbox. If its hanging by a thread on an old wooden post, its time to get a new one!
Adding window boxes or hanging planters is inexpensive and make for a lovely addition of detail. Choose plants with contrasting colors to the color of your house to improve curb appeal and increase property value.
Clean and or resurface your driveway and walkways. You can rent a pressure washer at most home improvement stores. If cleaning the driveway isn’t enough, you can resurface with products like NewCrete or Sacrete Flo-Coat. You may even want to look at stamped concrete to give it a new look. These are all good DIY projects.
Don’t overlook the garage door! A fresh coat of paint goes a long way! Buyers really like having a keypad to open it as well.
These are all easy and inexpensive ways to increase property value and improve curb appeal. To get my FREE Seller’s Guide, click here.
Want a CRAZY offer for your home?
Teresa Fudge is Suwanee GA’s favorite running Realtor®! She believes the best way to experience a community is on foot! Teresa has in-depth knowledge of the real estate market in Suwanee and the surrounding area. Whether its negotiating the sale of your home or running the Boston Marathon, Teresa will go the distance to get results!
