The term “curb appeal” refers to the first impression that your home offers to potential buyers.
It’s the impact that a building’s appearance has on those standing “on the curb”, at street level, before they’ve even stepped onto the property.
This aspect of a home’s appeal is considered among the most important when it comes to selling. A property with little to no “curb appeal” will fail to make a buyer’s shortlist and will be overlooked time and time again in favor of more “attractive” buildings.
So, how can you avoid falling at this vital first hurdle? This article put together by ![]()
a homebuying firm from across the pond Property Solvers offers a few great tips.
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Freshen Up the Facade
Think of the front wall of your home as its face. People viewing it will want it to look neat, clean, and friendly. Remove unused alarms, satellite dishes, security lights, and other clutter. Clean away dirt, moss, and debris and make sure visible pipes and other fixtures look good as new.
Consider giving your front door a fresh coat of paint – along with window frames and other features. You might even want to repoint your front wall.
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Prune and Mow
Do you have a front lawn or yard? How is it looking? To improve first impressions of your home, you should remove weeds from paths or driveways, tidy and mow grass, prune shrubs and give any flower borders a makeover.
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Spruce Up Your Windows
Neaten windows up on the inside and consider getting all exterior glass professionally cleaned for an extra-sharp look.
Take a look at what is displayed in your window and consider the appearance of your curtains or blinds from the outside. Is there a way in which you can make this aspect more appealing? You even might want to sparingly display attractive plants or ornaments in your windows to show that your property is well cared for.
4. Upgrade Hardware and Lights
A smart doorbell may make potential buyers feel more confident about the security of the property you are trying to sell, while new outdoor lights, door handles, mailboxes, and other attractive hardware will subtly but effectively improve its visual charm and sense of practicality.
Consider all of these upgrades for quick, easy, and affordable touches that are likely to have a significant effect on your home’s curb appeal.
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Invest in a Pressure Washer
Do you have any paving, asphalt, or concrete out front – including a patio or steps? Are these areas dirty, mossy, or generally in poor repair? If so, hire someone to clean them – or consider buying or renting a pressure washer yourself.
This quick job will make a huge difference to the attractiveness of your front yard or the approach to your property.
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Introduce Outdoor Decor
Decorating with garden ornaments, planters and features like trellises and solar lights will provide the front of your home with additional attractiveness and character. A little goes a long way, however, so try to be sparing with the decor you choose – as you don’t want to put viewers off by making your home seem garish or too prescriptive in style.
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Don’t Forget Other Angles
If someone is serious about purchasing your property, they won’t just inspect its facade. They are likely to want to look at as many angles as possible in order to get a super clear picture and to better understand its potential.
If you have a walkway down the side of your home, make sure it is clear and free of junk and weeds. Get moss and dead leaves removed from your roof tiles and gutters and otherwise neaten up the outside of your property from all visible angles.
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Take Excellent Pictures
Your home needs to look great “in the flesh” – but, if possible, it has to look even better in any images shared online!
Use a professional photographer if your budget allows and try to arrange for your property to be photographed on a beautiful sunny day when its outdoor spaces look luscious.
Make sure that potential buyers get to see your home’s best angles, and that pictures of its facade will be the first image displayed on its online sales brochure – as that’s the first and the most obvious way in which potential buyers will compare it with other buildings. It’s also a great idea to take a picture of the view or vista enjoyed from the front of your home – particularly if it’s very attractive! It’s great for house hunters to understand what they’ll see when first stepping out the door.
All of the above suggestions are ways in which you can improve your property’s curb appeal, making it more attractive to potential buyers and possibly even increasing its perceived value.
Follow our advice and be sure to keep both the exterior and of your home neat, clean, and well maintained if you’re planning to sell. The process is likely to be quicker and more successful as a result!
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