Curb appeal is extremely important when putting your house on the market. You want to make your house feel as inviting as possible, starting with the very first look. A house can give off a feeling as soon as a potential buyer pulls up. Let’s make sure that when your buyer pulls up, the feeling they get is – I have to have that house!
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1. The Front Door
Your front door needs to be in excellent shape. Doesn’t close correctly? Scraped up from the dog? Dirty? Whatever the case may be, you need to clean it up, fix it or replace it. When waiting for the Realtor to unlock the house, the front door is where the buyers are waiting. If your door is falling apart, that’s not a very positive note for what may be awaiting them inside. If it’s beautiful and clean, they will know that you take pride in your home and maintain it. Here are some options for getting your front door show ready:
- a fresh coat of paint – even try a pop of color like yellow or red! It will add some character to the house and clean up the door nicely.
- replace – if every house on the street has the same old front door, get a new one and make your house stand out. Extra points for one with a window to add some natural light! If you are going to purchase, opt for one with a storm door.
- clean – Wipe the door down from handprints and smudges. Windex the glass. This is often an oversight. Sellers are so busy keeping the inside clean, that they don’t even think of the door. I have done Open Houses where I had to find the cleaning supplies and wipe down the door before prospective buyers arrived. When people can see that you don’t even take care of you front door, they will wonder what else in the house you don’t take care of.
- décor – a seasonal wreath is always a nice touch
2. The Walkway & Driveway
Make sure these areas are clear of sticks, leaves, or anything that someone could trip on. Check them out to make sure there are no pavers or bricks popped up, or dangerous cracks. Replace any pavers that are cracked or broken. Shovel and salt in the winter – you don’t want anyone slipping!
3. Landscape
Check out your plants and grass for curb appeal. How are they looking these days? Pull the weeds and cut back the rose bush. Simply trimming down the bushes will help keep the yard looking polished and clean. Mow the lawn. Throw down some grass seed. Plant some pretty flowers and add some mulch. No time to do it yourself? Hire a landscaper and don’t worry about it!
4. Clean up
Make sure that there aren’t toys all over the yard, bikes laying around, or newspapers out that never got taken in last week. Do a quick once over and pick up anything that isn’t rooted in place.
5. The Steps/Porch
If you have steps leading up to your door, check out the condition. Is one broken and you’ve been pushing off fixing it? Do it now. Make sure the railings are tight and usable. Put a couple of potted plants beside the door or leading up the steps. Have a porch? Give it a wipe down, hose off the dirt. Repaint if necessary. You can display a couple of rocking chairs or a bistro set if you have them. It will feel very inviting and people will picture themselves sitting there, waiting for the kids to get off the bus or enjoying the sunset.
6. Gutters
Another important item that is often left off of the curb appeal cleaning list is the gutters. I have showed houses that have had plants growing out of the gutters! Do yourself a favor and take a look at them. Clean them out from all the leaves, twigs, and old bird nests. You don’t want water building up and causing problems anyways.
7. Shutters
While you’re out there taking care of business, check out your shutters. (If you have them). Do they need a fresh coat of paint? We recently repainted ours and found that spray paint was the easiest way to do it. Some houses can look very dated with plain white shutters. Many people are choosing black shutters for a more modern look. Consider even taking them down, or at least replacing if they are in rough shape.
8. The Fence
Buyers love a fenced in yard! Just make sure that your fence is clean and sturdy. A fence that is falling down or in rough shape is like not having one at all. It won’t keep the dogs – or kids – in the yard. Power wash the fence and replace any broken pieces.
Now get out there and put these tips into action for the best curb appeal on the block! These simple improvements can be done in a weekend and give your home a facelift. Instead of driving right on by, buyers will want to stop and come in to see what else you have to offer! Make sure the inside is ready too, with these tips on getting your house ready to sell!
