Homeowners listing their properties on the market often add curb appeal to their homes to help attract potential buyers. The good news is, while excellent curb appeal is vital when selling, it doesn’t have to drain your wallet or take countless hours of work. There are numerous inexpensive – and easy – ways to boost a home’s curb appeal quickly.
1. Add Fresh Paint to the Front Door
Your front door’s appearance matters when you go to sell your home. Tired paint is a distraction and signals to buyers the owner doesn’t care about their home’s appearance since they ignore the house’s entrance. However, a fresh, bold-colored coat of paint that complements the home’s exterior makes it highly welcoming. Then add a new welcome mat and pretty seasonal wreath (or welcome sign) on the door to complete the entry’s transformation.
Pro tip: If the door is dented or damaged in any way that paint can’t hide, consider replacing the door.
2. Clean Up the Home’s Exterior
Sellers never know when interested buyers may drive by the property to check it out before scheduling a viewing. Due to “unexpected company” showing up at any time, it’s a good idea to keep the home’s exterior looking top-notch consistently.
- Manicure the lawn/regular mowing
- Add fresh annual flowers for color
- Spread mulch
- Pull out all weeds
- Remove dead or limp branches
- Trim hedges and bushes
- Clean up toys, tools, and other items
- Tuck trash cans out of sight
- Sweep driveway and walkways
- Power wash the home
- Arrange patio or lawn furniture to look inviting
People selling their properties in the off-season or winter months should keep up with removing falling leaves, snow, ice, and other debris. Add seasonal plants or other colorful decorations to the entryway to offset any dreary days.
3. Upgrade the Mailbox
Many people tend to neglect their mailboxes because if they aren’t broken, why fix them? But mailboxes can still show wear and tear, and good first impressions are essential when selling a home. Swapping an old mailbox out for a shiny new one makes the house look well-kept since plastic ones tend to fade, and metal ones become rusted. If feeling creative, add some mailbox flair to impress potential buyers.
4. Replace Exterior Light Fixtures
Homes often have dated light fixtures in the front of their homes – an excellent way to spruce up curb appeal is to swap those out for modern fixtures. If the fixtures are too expensive, try giving them a good paint job to shine them up.
5. Replace House Numbers
It’s not uncommon to find homes with old, faded, or missing numbers. To spruce up curb appeal, replace these with shiny new ones – they are pretty inexpensive, and you can pick them up at any big box or hardware store (or if still feeling creative, go the DIY route). New house numbers not only look more attractive, but they’ll also help potential buyers quickly identify the property they want to look at.
Moving Made Easy
First impressions are vital, and curb appeal can make the difference in a sale or a pass when buyers view the property. Even if your budget doesn’t accommodate significant improvements, these can go a long way towards catching a buyer’s eye.
If you’re looking to schedule an upcoming move after selling your house, call us today for a free quote!