Curb Appeal – The Way To Get More For Your Home

Ms. Jones, a potential buyer, drives by your home prior to viewing it with her Real Estate Professional. The red brick, the large windows, and the two-car garage looked very attractive and the same as the MLS listing she saw the day before.

However, she can not avoid noticing the patchy lawn, missing shingles on the roof, the chipped window frames, soiled siding, and the bicycles and wagons stacked, three-deep, on the side of the garage. The front door is a foul shade of violet. She shakes her head and drives away, without even getting out of her car.

She calls her Real Estate Professional and says she would like to look at another house.

This is just a short example of why it’s always a good idea to improve your home’s outside appearance prior to listing your house. In fact, it is essential to increasing the price you will receive for your home.

A prospective buyer will determine, in seconds, whether your home is a prospect just based on how your home looks on the outside.

In today’s article, we will reveal exactly why it’s so important to set the stage with good curb appeal.

So, what is curb appeal? Curb appeal is the overall impression that your home creates when viewed by a potential buyer. It is the quality that gets buyers thinking about your home as their future home.

As soon as a potential buyer sees your home, they will begin creating an emotional connection, be that good or bad, with your home. A buyer begins to form a picture in their mind and questions start popping up.

Could I live here?

Can I maintain my current lifestyle in this home?

How much work do I have to do?

After viewing a home that looks cared for on the outside they will want to move inside, so it’s important to have an exterior that will attract buyers, not scare them away. For that, make sure to consider the following areas when enhancing your curb appeal.

1. Paint

Paint Brush

Chipped or peeling paint detracts from the appearance of your home. Even the best looking house on the inside is nothing if it can’t attract buyers with the outside, so tend to your exterior first before moving on to other things.

An inexpensive paint job, including the front door, fence, shutter, and other surfaces can significantly enhance the appearance and value of your home. It’s best to choose a neutral color that matches the brick, siding, fence or trim of your home instead of a strong color that may not be the preference of the majority of people.

2. Landscaping

Backyard

Who doesn’t love a freshly cut green grass and a beautiful garden to look at from the patio? Landscaping is another inexpensive thing you can do to your exterior that brings a lot of value to your house.

Start by mowing and edging your lawn. Repair any unsightly patches. Trim all those overgrown trees and shrubs.  Replace old pots with new ones, plant new flowers in them and water the old ones.

If you have any gardening tools left in the yard, store them away in the garage or basement. Make sure to tend to your sidewalks and driveways. Hose them down and clear any clutter such as dust, leaves, gravel or pebbles. Store any toys, sporting equipment or bicycles, neatly in the garage or basement. Remove stray weeds from adjoining lawn areas.

Eavestroughs are often overseen when it comes to cleaning the exterior. If possible, hose them down along with the siding and sidewalks. Remove any leaves or debris. If they’re damaged or loose, repair them so they don’t cause concerns to prospecting buyers.

Although it may seem like a lot of work at first, just by dedicating a few hours of your time and some effort into doing these landscaping chores, you can add up hundreds, maybe even thousands of dollars of worth to your house.

3. Fences/siding/exterior

Fence

Fences are the first thing that people see once they stand in front of your house. Old, rusty fences with paint peeling off them are surely not what you want them to see first.

Complete any repairs to these areas. A fence that looks like it will blow over the in the strong wind, leaves a bad impression. Be sure to hose down these areas, prior to viewing and repaint the fence if needed.

4. Cracked/uneven foundation

Foundational Crack

The foundation of a house is the basis for everything. It’s one of the most important parts of a house. If buyers notice any damage to it, they may back away from your house and go over to the next one, even if the repair is a minimal one.

Make sure to have this area taken care of. A buyer is less likely to purchase your home if they will be hit with foundation repairs, so it’s always better to deal with this issue before you lose any potential buyers because of it.

5. Lighting

Lighting
Lighting

A dark entryway doesn’t look so welcoming and buyers may arrive at any time of the day, so it’s important to keep everything bright and illuminated.

Stand outside of your house at night time and see which areas are badly illuminated or dark. Where you notice any problems with the lighting, tend to them.

Upgrade any worn or rusted lighting. Clean the light fixtures you already have and remove any cobwebs and debris that may have accumulated over time.

If you decide to replace existing lighting, remember that warm lighting around your home’s exterior creates an inviting appearance. You don’t have to invest a lot though. There are many low-voltage landscape lighting fixtures on the market that can instantly make your house look brighter and cleaner.

Even a smaller home can appear cozy with the correct lighting.

6. Finishing touches

Entryway doormat

Put out a new, inexpensive welcome doormat. Clean any outdoor furniture and replace old and worn cushions. Go even further and replace the house numbers and your mailbox so they match the new and updated look of your house.

If you have a pet that lives in the backyard, be sure to advise your Real Estate Professional in advance. Even better, arrange for pet boarding when showing your home.

Ultimately, when you pay attention to your curb appeal, your home will likely spend less time on the market. It has been proven time and time again and your Realtor will confirm it.

Uncompleted repairs could lengthen the time needed to sell your home. The first impression that a buyer makes of your home is important. It sets the tone for the rest of the walkthrough.

When your prospective buyer falls in love with the exterior, he or she will anticipate an equally appealing interior. With good curb appeal, you are issuing a personal invitation: “Welcome. Come on in.”

A GTA Real Estate Professional can assist you in ensuring your home is ready for showing. Apply for free at: https://www.gtarealestatepros.ca/apply-now/


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