It's what’s outside that counts! Check out these
11 exterior upgrades that will give your home simple but effective
curb appeal.
Your home’s curb
appeal sets the tone for what potential buyers expect of the home
they’re walking into, explains Darren Brand. “Since most people’s
buying decisions are based on an emotional response, the curb appeal
starts the love affair, or terminates it immediately,” he
says.
But you don’t have to completely overhaul the exterior of your home in order to sell. Just pick and choose what you think will have the most impact and go from there. No matter what state the economy is in, dealing with curb appeal issues are important since even in good times, you could be leaving money on the table by not doing needed work. When times are tough, there are also a lot less potential purchasers and a lot more competition, so you have to make your home stand out in a crowd.
Here are 11 simple ways to improve your home’s curb appeal for maximum impact.
1 Start with the most obvious things
If you can only do a few things to spruce up the exterior of your home, start with the most glaringly obvious. For example, if your garden is overrun with weeds, the front lawn hasn’t been cut in so long that you need a machete to get to the door and remnants of last spring’s garage sale still adorn the front porch, mow the lawn, pull the weeds and get rid of the mess. A messy front yard will be the first thing a potential buyer sees and it might tell them not to look any further. You don’t have to have a prize-winning rose garden to attract potential buyers, just a yard that looks tidy and well cared for.
2 Add planters
Adding planters (even store bought, ready-made ones) can go a long way toward creating the perception of a well loved home. They not only add colour to a porch or patio, they’re eye-catching and give the impression you spend time improving your surroundings.
3 Ensure consistent window treatments
Matched blinds and curtains can add a lot to the perception of quality and thought put into a home, says Darren. “A lot of people don’t even think about how this interior element affects the look of the exterior.” He also stresses the importance of washing your windows; this is also something that has an impact on the inside as well as outside of your home.
4 Wake up your driveway
Since the driveway is one of the first things prospective buyers will notice, it’s a good idea to freshen it up. Adding a sealer can refresh a tired driveway. This is an inexpensive makeover that can be accomplished in a short time by almost anyone, Darren says.
But you don’t have to completely overhaul the exterior of your home in order to sell. Just pick and choose what you think will have the most impact and go from there. No matter what state the economy is in, dealing with curb appeal issues are important since even in good times, you could be leaving money on the table by not doing needed work. When times are tough, there are also a lot less potential purchasers and a lot more competition, so you have to make your home stand out in a crowd.
Here are 11 simple ways to improve your home’s curb appeal for maximum impact.
1 Start with the most obvious things
If you can only do a few things to spruce up the exterior of your home, start with the most glaringly obvious. For example, if your garden is overrun with weeds, the front lawn hasn’t been cut in so long that you need a machete to get to the door and remnants of last spring’s garage sale still adorn the front porch, mow the lawn, pull the weeds and get rid of the mess. A messy front yard will be the first thing a potential buyer sees and it might tell them not to look any further. You don’t have to have a prize-winning rose garden to attract potential buyers, just a yard that looks tidy and well cared for.
2 Add planters
Adding planters (even store bought, ready-made ones) can go a long way toward creating the perception of a well loved home. They not only add colour to a porch or patio, they’re eye-catching and give the impression you spend time improving your surroundings.
3 Ensure consistent window treatments
Matched blinds and curtains can add a lot to the perception of quality and thought put into a home, says Darren. “A lot of people don’t even think about how this interior element affects the look of the exterior.” He also stresses the importance of washing your windows; this is also something that has an impact on the inside as well as outside of your home.
4 Wake up your driveway
Since the driveway is one of the first things prospective buyers will notice, it’s a good idea to freshen it up. Adding a sealer can refresh a tired driveway. This is an inexpensive makeover that can be accomplished in a short time by almost anyone, Darren says.
5 Add cedar
mulch
Adding cedar mulch goes a long way to freshening up flowerbeds even in early spring when plants are small or non-existent. The mulch can be any shade but Darren suggests red to add a nice punch of colour.
6 Create a welcoming porch
An empty porch can look stark and cold. If you have a porch large enough to accommodate furniture, set up a welcoming grouping such as two exterior club chairs and a table or a bistro set for dining. It’s also a good idea to add some colour with plants in containers.
7 Put down new sod
A lawn in poor condition does not create a good first impression and is something you should consider replacing if you’re trying to sell your home. It’s a lot faster to put down new sod instead of seeding and waiting, Darren says.
8 Add mature plants
When working on flowerbeds, adding larger mature plants is a lot easier (and in some cases, less expensive) than buying several flats of annuals, says Darren. Larger, more mature plants also tend to have a greater impact.
9 Spring for new accoutrements
Adding a new mailbox, house light and house number is a cheap and cheerful way of updating your home’s exterior.
10 Repaint
Giving the exterior of your home a fresh coat of paint can do wonders for curb appeal. Darren suggests painting your house in the colour of homes in a more expensive neighbourhood as a great way to create the perception of quality while doing something you probably already need to do.
11 Replace windows
Replacing windows is expensive but has a definite impact on curb appeal, says Darren. It can make your home look polished and give the impression you’ve upgraded more than just the windows.
Adding cedar mulch goes a long way to freshening up flowerbeds even in early spring when plants are small or non-existent. The mulch can be any shade but Darren suggests red to add a nice punch of colour.
6 Create a welcoming porch
An empty porch can look stark and cold. If you have a porch large enough to accommodate furniture, set up a welcoming grouping such as two exterior club chairs and a table or a bistro set for dining. It’s also a good idea to add some colour with plants in containers.
7 Put down new sod
A lawn in poor condition does not create a good first impression and is something you should consider replacing if you’re trying to sell your home. It’s a lot faster to put down new sod instead of seeding and waiting, Darren says.
8 Add mature plants
When working on flowerbeds, adding larger mature plants is a lot easier (and in some cases, less expensive) than buying several flats of annuals, says Darren. Larger, more mature plants also tend to have a greater impact.
9 Spring for new accoutrements
Adding a new mailbox, house light and house number is a cheap and cheerful way of updating your home’s exterior.
10 Repaint
Giving the exterior of your home a fresh coat of paint can do wonders for curb appeal. Darren suggests painting your house in the colour of homes in a more expensive neighbourhood as a great way to create the perception of quality while doing something you probably already need to do.
11 Replace windows
Replacing windows is expensive but has a definite impact on curb appeal, says Darren. It can make your home look polished and give the impression you’ve upgraded more than just the windows.
