Curb Appeal. We hear it on HGTV and read it in magazines. But what does it mean? Well, according to The National Association of REALTORS®, how your home looks on the outside can have a significant influence on the potential buyers’ perception of its value. We all know that buyers are cruising the neighborhoods, looking at real estate. If your grass is not cut and there are dead flowers from last spring still in pots, the buyer will keep moving.
It is finally Spring and time for new growth and new beginnings! If you are in the market to sell your home, then you need to spruce up the exterior so the buyer will want to see your interior. Where to start? We should talk flowers. How often do you drive through a neighborhood and see beautiful hanging baskets and think wow! This is curb appeal. You view the exterior as pretty and automatically assume the interior is kept in the same condition. This is what will help with showings. Many local nurseries are open. Support local.
Here are some tips to make your curb appeal to buyers. Stand in front of your house and look at it, with a visitor’s eye. Do you see dirt? Are your gutters covered with slime? Does your front porch need some sprucing? What needs painted? Develop a list of things that you can do to make the front of the home inviting.
Start by washing the windows inside and out. First impressions are best and dirty windows will have the buyer running to the next property. Power wash the gutters and siding if they have built up mold and slime from the winter. Place a flag or hanging flower basket on your front porch and keep it tidy at all times. Keep the grass cut and shrubs trimmed. No one wants to buy a house that looks like a jungle.
How is your roof? Did you know that this is probably the first thing a buyer sees when viewing your property? Why? Because it can be a huge expense if it needs replaced. Repair any loose shingles. If it is at the end of its life, consider replacing it now. This will help add value to your home when you list it for sale.
You need to view your home from all angles. Do you have a deck? Does it need painted, repaired or replaced? Buyers want to see themselves in your property, on your deck, on your porch. If it is not well maintained, they will move onto the next property. Paint your front door. Add some shutters. This is the time to do some home repairs. Remember first impressions are the best impressions. Ask your local agent for suggestions when they come to view your home.
The weather is looking good this week, so get out there and work on your curb appeal. I have my list! Happy Mother’s Day to all you amazing ladies! Remember to do good things!
Stephanie Lemley, 2021 MBOR President
