Curb appeal is the term used to describe the general attractiveness of a house to a prospective buyer from the sidewalk. Realtors use often use this term to evaluate a piece of property. There are several ways someone can improve the curb appeal of their home, these tasks can be inexpensive and easily completed. Many real estate agents stress the importance of increasing or maximizing the curb appeal of your house when trying to sell it. The exterior aesthetic look of your home from the outside is what gives the first impression to the buyer. By looking at the conditions on the outside buyers expect the same conditions for the interior design. So curb appeal is extremely important in determining your property’s value. Here are a few ways you can improve your curb appeal.
- Improving your garden or yard
When trying to sell your house you don’t want to spend your full budget on the interior of the property if the buyer’s first impression is going to be disappointing. One of the first things people see when walking towards or past your house is the front yard or garden. Even if this space is small, it is very important that it is clean and gives off a good first impression.
To do this you need to begin with the grass, landscaping, and getting rid of or cleaning up the foliage in the front of the property. Start with cleaning up and cutting the grass, try to remove burnt or old dirt patches that make the property feel neglected and dated. If the grass conditions are worse then you can also plant grass seeds and water the yard. In a couple of weeks, this problem will be fixed. Another option requiring a bit more budget is to purchase sod or artificial grass. Next, take care of the overgrown bushes by trimming them or removing them completely. It is easy to make your garden look better on a budget. These things can be done by yourself or you can pay a small amount of money to one of your neighbor’s kids looking to make extra pocket money.
2. The roof
While you may not think much of the roof, it is still a part of the property’s physical condition. Small features about the roof can just as easily attract buyers and it can turn buyers away. If the roof is old and looks like it will need maintenance in a couple of years it is recommended to deal with the issue now. If you invest in fixing the roof now you will make the money back by selling the house at a higher price than what it would have been sold without the maintenance. If buyers realize they will have to invest in fixing the roof themselves they will most likely submit a lower offer on the house.
Under the same category comes fixing small repairs like ripped screens or unhinged doors and windows. You may not notice small things from being in the house for so long but newcomers will easily see these flaws. It is worth taking a couple of hours or a day to repair these small things. Try to walk around the house (or get a friend to) and spot anything that requires a quick fix.
3. The exterior of the house
There are a couple of things you can do to improve the exterior aesthetic of your house. One of these things is to hide any electrical fixtures. For example, hiding an electrical box on the front or side of your house. This can easily be done by a paint job so it can camouflage and blend in with the background instead of being an eyesore.
Another is to power wash the exterior of your house. If you don’t have a power washer already, this may make a dent in your budget but washing off the grime and dirt from your porch or side of your house will make your house look sparkling clean; you may even want to change your mind about moving out. Instead of buying a power washer or hiring a company to do it for you, it is also possible to rent one from Home Depot or Lowe’s. Lastly, you want to go around the house and re-paint certain parts of the outside, making sure there are no paint chips and the color is even all around. It may even be worth it to repaint to whole outside of the house – or hire someone to do it for you.
Summary
Just with these easy and low-budget tasks, you can improve the state of your house and the property value by a lot more than you expect. Your realtor will tell you that curb appeal is one of the most important aspects of determining property value and improving it will do you good. Other things you can do to go the extra mile are cleaning the driveway, painting the garage door, and making sure the entrance to your house is cleared and easy to access. In the end, investing a small amount into maximizing your property’s curb appeal will benefit you in the long run.
