Curb Appeal: 10 Easy Projects for a Great First Impression to Get Buyers Inside
You probably already know this: 88% of home-buyers initiate their search online and of those 63% will drive past a property they like. So, what do they see? How do we get them to call about looking inside the home instead of simply driving by? Obviously, first impressions don’t start upon entering a home; it starts with curb appeal.
Step to the curb in front of your house. What do you see? Front door, hand railings and stairs, condition of the façade, landscaping, garage, and the parkways and sidewalks. Now, look at your home objectively as a buyer and decide what you would like to see as a buyer. A clean and neat appearance can convey to buyers that the home is well-maintained. Consequently, maintaining the exterior impacts the potential number of viewers a listed home receives. Additionally, you may find issues you have previously not paid attention to: cracking paint, dirty windows, or brick that needs to be tuck-pointed. Make note of all your home’s imperfections and then speak with a real estate professional to help you decide which are worth the investment to repair.
Certain investments are more critical than others and certain items bring a higher return in resale. Specifically, the landscaping/greenery sets the stage, so it’s worth the added expense to properly maintain and add pots of flowers for a pop of color. However, don’t go too crazy. Landscaping doesn’t bring a high return value for costs. Another important area to maintain is your roof. Roofs usually need some sort of repair after 10 years so assume this will be a point of contention in the inspection process if you haven’t had it maintained. New or repaired roof brings good resale value to the home. It’s usually on of the biggest concerns of buyers: how’s the roof?
At Southern Pine Properties, we create small details that invoke that feeling of charm and coziness and ultimately can make a difference for buyers. Recently, we painted a front door of a rehab property a goldenrod shade of yellow. Another popular color for doors is a shade of robin-egg blue. Against the color scheme of the rest of the house and the neighborhood, this door looks bright, happy and inviting. Other quick fixes include adding outdoor lighting or address numbers in a shiny metal. Here’s 10 simple fixes that bring great curb appeal to encourage buyers to call to enter your home.
- Dress up the front door – Make a statement by giving your front door a blast of color with paint or by installing a custom wood door
- Create an instant garden – You can buy ready-made containers from garden centers or create your own with your favorite plants
- Do a mailbox makeover – Mailboxes are like jewelry, pick one that mirrors your home’s trimmings
- Renew landscape beds – Pull the weeds, trim the shrubs and add new mulch
- Repair or replace gutters and downspouts – If they suffer from peeling paint, rust spots, or other problems that can convey a sense of neglect
- Tile your doorstep – Create a permanent welcome mat by tiling or painting a design that contrasts with the porch floor or front stoop.
- Build a walkway (or create the image of a new one) – Pressure wash and apply a colored concrete resurfacer to the old walkway
- Add accent molding or shutters – Molding acts like an architectural eyeliner when applied to the sides and top of the doorway, same for shutters on windows
- Upgrade railings – If your railings are past their prime, look for quality wood or metal components to replace the existing material
- Change the front porch light – Much like the mailbox, a light fixture can be functional jewelry that can make an impression
One last tip: don’t forget to make window treatments uniform. Keep all the drapes open or the blinds drawn so you maintain the aesthetic continuity of the exterior.
