Have you noticed that lots of people are moving lately? With mortgage interest rates low, a lot of people are buying homes. Or moving to larger homes. If you’re planning on a move yourself, then now is the time to start thinking about what you can do to make your house more appealing to buying. First impressions matter, especially when it comes to your home. First impressions in the real estate market are called curb appeal.
If your house doesn’t have a good curb appeal, it might not stick out from the rest of the homes on the market. Buyers are also less likely to finish a tour of a home with unattractive curb appeal. Not only that, but even if the interior of your home is completely redone and you neglect the curb appeal, you might lose potential buyers before they enter your home.
Everyone knows what curb appeal is; it’s having a nice exterior to your home that makes the house look amazing from the curb. Unfortunately, sometimes it can be difficult to determine what it is about a house that makes it look better than the rest, and sometimes it’s just your personal opinion. But, no matter another person’s preferences, you can spruce up your curb appeal with these tips.
Paint Your Front Door (or Replace It)
The front door can make a major impact from the curb, and it’s going to greet every potential buyer your house gets to see. Your front door’s style should match that of your home’s. If it already does, then you can just add a coat of paint to freshen it up. If your front door doesn’t match your home, then consider replacing it with something more modern.
When deciding what color to paint your home, it’s best to go with charcoal, but you can always go bold with red.
Replace Your Mailbox
Your mailbox is something that’s used every single day and hardly replaced. Not only that but if you live in a place that has icy winters, your mailbox may get hit by drivers sliding across the road. If your mailbox looks old and outdated or is damaged, replace it before your open house.
Hardware Updates
Replace the street numbers on your home. While this may seem like a small detail, it can have a huge impact on curb appeal. You can transform the hardware on your home into a DIY craft with a fresh coat of paint.
You should also update door hardware, including door knockers and knobs. While you may believe that homebuyers won’t be looking at a doorknob when they use it, they’ll notice if it’s rusty or feels weird in their hand. So instead of drawing attention to a small problem with your home, update your handles to ensure there’s nothing that buyers won’t love about your home’s exterior.
Fix Garage Doors
Depending on the type of home you have and its size, your garage door might make up a significant portion of what people see when looking at your home from the curb. Unfortunately, garage doors typically lack the detail of the rest of the home, so they can make your home look boring.
Ensure your garage door matches the rest of your home’s exterior with a fresh coat of paint. Instead of opting for white, choose a darker shade or color that won’t easily show dirt. You can also paint your garage door so it makes an impact from the street; just make sure you can appeal to modern home buyers rather than your tastes.
Add Plants
If you have a front door or walkway, consider adding potted plants to make any space more lively and colorful.
Add a Fence
Many homebuyers have dogs that will need fenced-in yards so they can safely do their business. Adding a fence to your home (if your HOA allows it) allows you to appeal to both pet owners and children. It can also give your home additional texture so the exterior looks cozier from the street.
Maintain Your Lawn
If you haven’t taken proper care of your lawn over the years, now is the time to fix it. You can easily make your lawn healthier by watering it and providing it with the proper fertilizer. You may also have spots of dead grass, so you must fill those in with new seed.
Get New Outdoor Furniture
If your outdoor furniture has been used and abused or you don’t have any, consider getting new outdoor furniture that can make your home look more modern on the outside. You can also fix up your existing furniture. Look for colors such as light gray, blue, and black to help your home look modern and attract young homebuyers.
Powerwash
If you want to make your home look brand new, consider power washing the exterior to remove dirt, moss, and grime. Power Washing can make your beautiful brick stand out better from the street so that your house can attract more homebuyers. You should also pressure wash your driveway and sidewalks to keep them looking clean and welcoming.
Upgrade Lighting
If your porch light hasn’t been cleaned in years, now is the time to get rid of dust and spider webs that have accumulated. Once the light is clean, you can decide whether you need to upgrade the fixture or add a coat of paint to make it look brand new. While homebuyers won’t usually see the front porch light on, they’ll be looking for anything wrong with the house they’ll need to replace, so having a fixture on your porch that doesn’t look nice can turn many buyers off.
Be Bold
Whether you’re painting the entire exterior of your home or adding a more modern touch with upgraded lighting and hardware, don’t be afraid to go bold. Adding pops of color and flourishes can make your house stand out from the street and can attract more buyers.
Should You Spruce Up Your Curb Appeal?
There are many reasons why you might want to spruce up your curb appeal, but the one major reason to start doing it is if you plan to sell your house soon. If that’s the case, take a look at your home from the street and start making a plan that can help your house attract more buyers.
