A sale can be made or lost as a direct result of your home's curb appeal. When it comes to selling your home, the first impression is probably the most important impression. If the outside of the property doesn't create interest or appear well-maintained, a buyer may choose to not even come inside the home. Here are five ways to create curb appeal.
Paint and polish. A fresh coat of paint breathes new life into a tired-looking home. If your home looks dull or suffers from peeling, cracked or chipped surfaces, a paint job is a great investment. Polish the doorknocker and mail slot on the front door, as well as any light fixtures by the entry. Re-condition your deck. Consider renting a power washer to clean dirt and mildew from the wood, and then apply an all-weather sealer or stain.
Manicure the grounds. Mow and edge the grass, and trim the trees and bushes. Also, clear away dead leaves and flowers, and mulch and weed the beds. Check to see that tree branches are not touching the home's roof or outer walls. Add some color to your landscape by planting annuals and placing planters of flowers in strategic spots. You can even spruce up the property by hanging flowering baskets. Add flowering plants in the back yard, too.
Make needed repairs. See if anything is unhinged, loose or just an eyesore. Fix everything including broken fencing, windows and screens. Replace any missing shingles from the roof. Try the doorbell. Check stairs and railings. Test doors for squeaks and rusted hinges. Don't forget to take a critical look at the property at night. Make sure the lights work, and replace dim and burned-out bulbs.
Unclutter. Tidy up the deck, patio and back yard. Rearrange the outdoor furniture to look inviting. Put away gardening tools and toys. Clean up the barbecue area. Eliminate any "evidence" of pets, and restrict them to the back yard when showing the home. Move extra vehicles from the view of passersby.
Clean. Clean the windows, inside and out, wash down the walks and driveway, and hose down the siding. Clean outdoor furniture and cushions. Check for oil spots on cement surfaces, especially the garage floor.
The old saying about making a good first impression couldn't be truer than when you are selling your home. Even the smallest enhancements can make a big difference in creating love at first sight for buyers.
Maggie Dokic, SFR is a licensed real estate broker in the state of Florida selling residential real estate in Miami, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Coral Gables, Gables by the Sea, High Pines, the Redland and other select areas of SW Miami-Dade County.
Maggie has earned her SFR certification to be able to better serve the needs of her customers in today's non-traditional real estate market. SFR is a Short Sale, Foreclosure Resource Specialist. Designees have been trained to understand the highly specialized options available to Sellers facing short sales & foreclosures and Buyers looking to buy them.
For more information on our local real estate market, or to see or sell a home in Miami, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Coral Gables or the Redland, visit my Miami Real Estate blog or contact me at Maggie (at) TheBlogThatAteMiami (dot) com.
The opinions expressed herein, are those of the author, and not necessarily of Prudential Florida Realty.
Great post. The trick is in the winter when we have no leaves or pretty green grass.
Maggie - we all know how important this is, but unfortunately some sellers do not. I have had buyers say "keep driving" when we have come to see some homes they were interested in because of the lack of curb appeal.
On the other hand, with REOs and short sales, one has to expect that this is a huge issue and to look beyond it.
Jeff
Maggie, Good advice, all of it. I always believe if the outside isn't taken care of the inside probably isn't as well. One home I went to see I didn't even want to go inside from the appearance of the outside!
I think a fresh coat of paint - even if only the front door is a good start. Good advice, Maggie.
Hi Maggie,
You're so right about those first impressions.
Point in fact some years ago I received a call from off a yard sign on a perfectly manicured home, This was a home admired by many of us since it was on a fairly busy street. While speaking with the potential buyers I asked about the possibiity of looking at others, the answer was NO, that's the only one we want to see because we want to buy that one. They did, end of story.
Hi Maggie, good posts---lots of good tips! Thanks for sharing.....
Hi Maggie,
This post is absolutely right!
I agree with Gary (post #4) about the value of a fresh coat of paint on the front door.
Once the buyers are inside, their eyes can take in entire rooms and gravitate towards the home's best features, and contextualize its shortcomings.
But when they are standing outside waiting for their Realtor to stop fiddling with the lockbox, or a sticky deadbolt, the front door is right there, staring at them the whole time!
Thanks for taking the time to share these tips!
Diane, I guess in Tennessee that issue does come up. LOL In sunny Florida there's no excuse (except a hurricane..yikes)
Jeff, I've had the same thing happen with buyers. And it doesn't matter how beautiful the inside is. If the outside turns them off, they're not stepping inside.
Carole, that is precisely right. It's a pretty safe bet that the outside is a good reflection of the maintenance (or lack thereof) of a home.
Gary, absolutely! Painting the entire exterior, while producing great results, isn't practical. It's expensive too! But a door doesn't take a lot of money or time, and the payoff is big.
Lynda, that's a great story. I can absolutely picture someone falling in love with a house from the outside. And if the inside doesn't disappoint, then you've got a deal on your hands.
Hi Essie, thanks for stopping by. It's always appreciated =)
Tim, those are great points. We need to be proactive and eliminate as many shortcomings as possible. There is no excuse for a front door with peeling paint or dirty smudges all over the place. It screams "I've not been well cared for!"