Curb appeal is that elusive feeling people get when they first see your house. Part first impression, part falling in love. When you are selling your single family home, great curb appeal helps you sell faster and for more money. Luckily, there are a few tricks to creating curb appeal where there was once none. You don't have to remodel the entire exterior to get it. A few tweaks in the right places will do the trick.
1. Mailbox: Technically, your mailbox is the first thing potential buyers see when they drive up to your house. As they are looking at house numbers and trying to find the correct house, do they see a dilapidated mailbox that is falling off the post and missing house numbers? Sprucing up your mailbox is a quick task that adds to your curb appeal instantly.
2. Lawn: While winter may hide some lawns with snow cover, the rest of the country needs to keep the grass looking healthy. Bald spots from pets digging up or, worse, peeing on the lawn must be tamed. Regardless of the season, your lawn should look presentable. If you have pets, go on poop patrol. If your neighbors have green lawn, get to work on your own grass.
3. Front Walkway: The sidewalk up to your front door needs to be in good repair. A quick Saturday afternoon of power washing can clean it up and remove unwanted stains, but you need to repair cracks, too. Your curb appeal is at zero if a potential buyer trips on their way up to the door.
4. Front Porch: Most front porches are a five minute fix. Sweep. Remove cobwebs. Add potted flowers. This is not rocket science. You want potential buyers, like any guest to your home, to feel welcome. A big, cheerful pot of mums always does the trick.
5. Front Door: Likewise, peeling paint on your front door does not say, "Welcome to our home". Rather, it says, "Stay away!" You are not creating curb appeal if buyers are starting to think that you don't bother to take care of your home. A fresh coat of paint in a cheerful, bright color sends the right message.
6. Doorbell: Last, but not least, your doorbell needs to be working. Before entering your home, the buyer's agent almost always rings the bell to let any lingering homeowners know that his group is entering the home. If it doesn't work, your first impression is shot.
Hello, my name is Ben Hatten. Welcome to my website about selling your home on the real estate market. When I was ready to sell my home, I thought that the process would go smoothly from start to finish, so I did not acquire help from an agent. After learning about all the things that could go wrong, I decided to enlist the help of an agent to sell my home with assistance. I created this site to help everyone prepare for the process of selling their home with help from an agent. I hope you will come by often to learn more. Thanks.