Quick Tips for Instant Curb Appeal

First impressions matter. When deciding to list your home, think about what people will see when they first drive up and step out of their vehicle. Is your property inviting? Does it look well-maintained? If so, then people will likely think that your home has been taken care of, making them feel more positive and open-minded, while the house will feel more move-in ready. If you’re thinking about selling, check out these tips on how to get instant curb appeal and up the “wow” factor of your home.

Take a walk and make a plan.

Before tackling anything outside, take a quick walk around your property. Make a note of anything that needs to be fixed, any eyesores, or anything that can be removed. Then, create a plan of action. What all needs to be done? Consider taking a picture of your home and pretend it’s a “listing picture.” Does anything stand out that needs to be taken care of? Are your shrubs overgrown, is your walkway messy, do you have any broken downspouts? If so, write it down! Create a list of all the tasks you need to tackle. It will feel great to cross some things off of your to-do list as you complete various improvements.

Think about your budget.

When it comes to tidying up around your house, there could be a little cost involved. Take your list from the previous step and create a budget plan. If you find that you need to ratchet it down a bit, figure out which ones are your top priorities and start there. Think about whether or not you need to purchase plants or flowers, paint for the fence or door, or maybe you need to replace a window or two. These are some expenses that might reap great rewards in the long run.

Remove the clutter.

One of the first things you should do when getting down to the work is to remove any clutter around your home. If you have outside toys, consider putting those away for now. If you have any broken yard decorations, now would be a great time to toss those. Also consider putting your trashcans in a different location for the time being, as they can be an eyesore around your home. If you have torn lawn furniture, move those out, for now at least. Just getting rid of clutter can improve curb appeal immensely, and it doesn’t cost anything but time to do it!

Focus on landscaping.

Landscaping can encompass many things, all of which are critical when trying to boost curb appeal. First, try to prune any shrubbery you may have. Trim your hedges and any trees you have around for a nice, manicured look. And don’t forget to mow your yard. Even if it’s not in peak mowing season, take a look at it to see if it might need a little trim.

Once you have things cleaned up a bit, now really look around and see what needs to be removed and/or added. If you have bare spots in your yard, grab some grass seed to help fill it in. Adding flowers or plants always help boost morale and curb appeal around a home. Edge your walkway and pull any weeds you see. If you really want to go all out, consider adding flower boxes. They are beautiful and can add to the overall look of your home.

Do the little things that make a big difference.

There are many other tasks that can really up the appeal of your home. Consider some of the following if you’re wanting to make some big changes in overall appeal:

• Buy new house numbers and hang them.
• Paint your front door.
• Paint your fence (and fix any broken pieces).
• Add new lights to the exterior.
• Add a new, clean welcome mat.
• Replace or refresh your mailbox.
• Clean your windows.
• Powerwash your house and walkway.
• Clean off your porch and/or deck.
• Clean and/or replace your gutters and downspouts.

Wowing potential buyers is important in today’s world of real estate. If they feel like you have taken care of the home and it feels move-in ready, then you have increased your chances of selling. Doing some of these little things can have a huge impact.

Once you get the outside under control, check out some staging tips for the interior of your home in this post – Staging: The Secret to Selling Your Home. They will already love the outside, so let’s make them love the inside as well!