What if you spent all day tidying up the house for a showing, only for people to drive right past it?
That’s the reality for those who don’t focus on curb appeal. Because most buyers look online or do “drive-bys” before contacting a Realtor, that first impression has to count for them to book a showing. If the exterior looks amazing, the buyer might fall in love with the house before even viewing the interior.
Needless to say, it’s a big opportunity to catch attention right out of the gate.
Here’s a few examples of what curb appeal looks like:
- Manicured lawns (no weeds or overgrown shrubbery)
- Fresh paint with updated colors
- Updated light fixtures, including outdoor lighting to enhance the landscaping
- No rotting wood on the siding, porch, or trimwork
- Pressure washing the house, driveway and walkways
- Inviting front door
- Garage doors in good shape
- Clean the windows or replace if needed
- Pest control and cleaning up cobwebs, wasps nests, etc.
- Clean roof and gutters
- Replace old railings to stairs or porches
- Welcoming seating/planters/wreaths
And here’s some more of the benefits of why you should keep an eye on it:
- Because most buyers don't have vision of "what could be", this creates opportunities for buyers willing to make changes and fix up the exterior
- There’s a larger buyer pool looking at the properties with curb appeal, so there’s most likely room to negotiate
- Buyers can renovate the exterior to make it into their dream home, so getting it to a good starting point helps with their vision
- Even small fixes can make a huge difference, such as cleaning up a property that’s been vacant for a long time
- Landscaping alone can transform a property from looking neglected to amazing
- Paint, planter boxes, or outdoor seating are all easy fixes that serve to elevate the look of the home
Here’s an example of the kind of difference curb appeal makes with a before and after on the same house:
If you’re ready to spice up the front of your home, call The Zachos Team for your next steps. Alternatively, you can check out our sister company Stonewall Builder Group for more examples of home renovation and options on what we can do.
Written by Paul Zachos III