Spruce Up Your Curb Appeal

With spring in full bloom, it’s time to get outdoors and show those weeds who’s boss. Take some time this weekend to really spruce things up a bit, especially when you’re considering selling your property. Think of it like a first date, or perhaps an interview. You wouldn’t go out to dinner or show up to the office in your pajamas, would you? I didn’t think so. Just the same, don’t you want to make a great first impression?

THE FULL PICTURE

We’ll first start up close and gradually zoom out to get the full picture. For instance, take a look at that front door… whoa, when’s the last time you painted that old thing? Maybe applying a fresh coat of stain, or even exploring what a pop of color could do to make your entrance more inviting to potential homebuyers. Don’t forget to spray down that rusty handrail with a coat of high gloss finish. Let’s face it, we all like things that shine in the sunlight. Simply updating hardware, like door handles, can go a long way as well.

STEPPING BACK

Now that the front door welcomes you in, let’s step back a little further and take a look at what surrounds the entrance. Do you have a front porch? If so, consider dressing it up with some comfortable furniture to make it feel cozy. For instance, a rocking chair and a side table should do the trick. You want buyers to envision themselves sitting there, sipping a cold glass of sweet tea on a beautiful, sunny day. Throw down a nice welcome mat and even consider a wreath to hang on the door. This is coming together nicely. We’re finished here. Let’s move along.

CARVE A PATH

As we push past the overgrown bushes lining the sidewalk, this is where I might recommend investing in a hedger. This tool may not be ideal for those of you on a tight budget, but consider this… if trimming the bushes could be accomplished with much less effort, maybe it wouldn’t be at the bottom of your to-do list. They also make shears if intense manual labor is more your style. While you’re at the store, pick up a few bags of bark nuggets (yes, that’s really what they’re called) to revive your flower beds; just enough to lay out a nice fresh layer over the old stuff. It couldn’t hurt to add a few colorful flowers or a hanging plant either.

FROM A FAR 

Now that we’ve come this far, I hate to break it to you, but no homebuyer is going to be able to read those faded house numbers from the street. Let’s get those painted, or upgrade with some new numbers. Don’t make it harder for them to find your home, especially in this market, where we’re selling homes faster than we’re putting out the ‘For Sale’ signs.

FINISHING TOUCHES

For the finishing touches, let’s take a power washer to wash down the exterior of the home, driveway and any walkways. Keep the lawn and bushes trimmed and always sweep or blow off any grass clippings to avoid those grass stains on the drive you worked so hard to get clean.

REFLECT AND ADMIRE

Alright, now that the work has been done, take a trip to the front of your property, remember what it looked like before, then turn and look again. How do you feel? Yes, tired perhaps, you did a lot to get to this point, but I promise it will be worth it. Admire your home for a moment. Imagine if you were looking to buy in that neighborhood. Does your home say, “I’m the one that you want”? (Insert music from the movie Grease, by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John).

Showing you care about the curb appeal of your home is the first step to getting homebuyers in the door. This gives them the impression that your home is well taken care of both, inside and out. An unkept lawn, straggly bushes, and a filthy driveway are deterrents for buyers. If you’re not up for the task, I have a handful of trusty resources willing to tackle these types of projects. Reach out and I’d be happy to introduce you. On the other hand, if you’re reading this as a homebuyer, these are the telltale signs of great curb appeal and what you can hope to expect from your next home purchase.