Making Your Curb More Appealing

First impressions matter, especially to home buyers. Create the best first impression with these tips from Realty Times.

In a slower real estate market, it is increasingly important for sellers to differentiate their homes from the competition if they want to sell quickly and successfully. Curb appeal is an important part of setting yourself apart. First, think about what buyers want. Buyers want to feel an emotional desire to own a home and take part in what it represents. They also love moving into a home that is ready to go, in need of little or no repairs or maintenance and a blank canvas, ready for their personalities.

There are several ways you can improve your curb appeal and ensure that buyers will eagerly visit and enter your home.

• Fresh paint. A new paint job on your home’s exterior can make it look newly built. Be careful when choosing the color: choose something up-to-date that does not clash with the feel of your neighborhood. Also be meticulous in the job itself. Either hire a professional or be prepared to remove old coats of paint or at least prepare the surface before you start painting. A bad paint job is worse than an old one.

• New landscaping. Landscaping is critical to the impression your home creates when buyers pull up to the curb, get out and walk up to the house. Landscaping should be neat, simple and healthy, and should not be out of proportion to your home. It should also be practical. Think about how landscaping will mature, and plan to have plants and trees that provide shade, passive cooling and control of erosion and pollution. Also consider the level of privacy your landscaping provides.

• New roof. If you want to increase your curb appeal, a new roof is one of the best ways to do it. You should also update your gutters and downspouts. When deciding on the type of roof, realize that there are types that are more durable and may even provide insurance discounts, which may appeal to buyers. You can also choose textures and colors that complement your home.

• New pavement. Brand-new sidewalks, driveways and other surfaces will also give your home a new-home feel. Remember that nothing says old and in need of maintenance like a cracked or uneven driveway or walkway. You can also take the opportunity to introduce some variety. There is the traditional concrete, as well as cobblestones, interlocking concrete bricks and many more choices that will add interest to your home.

• New doors and windows. New doors and windows will make visitors feel welcome and may add value to your home. Heavily consider energy-efficient windows framed with shutters, which will update your home and save the new owner money on utilities. You can also replace your front door with a more interesting one, such as a door with glass panes. You could even consider updating your garage door, such as installing a sectional door with interesting windows.

Remember that first impressions are absolutely critical: if a buyer starts off with a poor impression of your home, it is almost impossible for your home to recover.

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