Consider if you wanted to buy a home. Would you be enticed to go into a home with an overgrown lawn, peeling paint, and missing shingles? Or would you be more likely to go into a home with colorful potted plants, meticulous landscaping, and a recently painted exterior?
The goal of a home’s exterior is to attract a potential buyer to tour the inside of the home. A home’s exterior is a potential buyer’s first impression. Homes with curb appeal have statistically had higher prices and sold within a shorter time. So here are a few tips to improve a home’s curb appeal:
1.Maintain the exterior structures. Putting off repairs can be catastrophic. Not maintaining exterior structures deteriorates the homes appearance and also harms its structural soundness. Consider if a home had an aged roof. A potential buyer would notice the roof within seconds of viewing the home. The buyer would assume that the home was not well-maintained. Plus, an aged roof can allow water into the home and create water damage.
- Wash, wash, wash. Give your home a facelift by removing the dust and dirt that has accumulated over the years. When a home’s exterior is clean its brighter and more eye-catching. Some homeowners choose to pressure wash their homes, but be careful not to chip off the exterior paint with the strength of the water. If you are worried about pressure washing your home, grab a bucket of soapy water and a brush. Clean the garage door (especially if its white), as it can be a huge eye-catcher as well.
- Landscaping. Make sure that your yard is tidy. Cut back overgrown bushes, pulls weeds, and mow the grass. Add potted flowers to bring additional color to the exterior of your home too. According to an article by HouseLogic, landscaping economist John Harris stated that good landscaping can increase a home’s value up to 28%.
- Update the exterior hardware. A way to easily make your home look more modern is to update the exterior hardware. The exterior hardware includes the house number, doorknobs/handles, and light fixtures. If necessary, also consider updating/replacing your mailbox.
- Accessorize. Add a few accessories to your home. If you are selling your home during the holidays, add a wreath to the front door. If you have a porch, consider adding a bench with colorful accent pillows. These little details will show potential buyers that you maintained your home and paid attention to the details.
By Anna Hellman
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