It’s only logical that better-looking houses sell for more—the better a house looks, the more interest it will get from potential home-buyers,
and more attention means greater competition, which in turn means larger offers. Plus, a house that looks well-maintained will appear to need fewer repairs and less upkeep, therefore costing buyers less money in the long run, and again raising their offering prices.
The best part? Sometimes even the smallest details can wow homebuyers.
Top 5 Tips to Spruce Up Your Curb Appeal
Increase the value of your home and sell it for more money with these simple tips to spruce up your curb appeal.
1. Give Your Home a Facelift
It might require a little elbow grease and some time, but it doesn’t have to be expensive. Rent a power washer, or even break out the bucket and broom, and give your house a good scrub-down to rid it of dirt, mildew, and discolorations. Even without a paint touch-up, this can make your home look brighter, cleaner, newer, and add up to thousands of dollars in value. With a paint touch-up or the addition of some trim, that value could be ten or fifteen thousand dollars.
2. Make Sure Your House Looks Well-Maintained
This might require a bit more time and money, but it is again well-worth your efforts. Most home buyers don’t want to buy a home they can tell right away will need to be fixed up, so take care of any maintenance problems beforehand. This means giving your gutters some attention, or replacing them all together, repairing the cracks in your driveway, straightening any crooked or hanging shutters or trim, and taking some time to really make sure you roof is in tip-top shape, even if that means an expensive repair or replacement. Better to pay before than to face a poor home appraisal.
3. Add Color and Tidy Your Garden
Especially during the spring and summer months, houses that are well-landscaped or have lots of color will really stand out to home buyers. Even if you’re not much of a gardener, it’s important to remember to give your yard some love. Mow the lawn, pull weeds—including from the cracks in the driveway, plant some flowers, maybe add some window boxes to your front-facing windows. Pre-arranged container gardens can be a nice touch to front porches.
4. Details, Details, Details!
Some of the smaller details might not necessarily be visible from the curb, but buyers do notice the little things, such as the mailbox, the light fixtures, even the doorknobs and house numbers. Dingy, dirty, and mis-matched are all negatives. Find a style that complements the style of your home and make sure all the details match. Bright, shiny, and well-maintained is the look you’re going for, even if you have an old or antique style home.
5. The Finishing Touches
Now to really wow those home buyers. Your garden looks good—now, make it look great by adding decor, such as fence panels, garden gates, or even birdbaths and weather-resistant artwork. Put molding around the outside of your door to really make it pop. Add low-voltage lighting along your walkways and doorway. These aren’t necessary, but small details really are the finishing touches.
Ready to Sell?
If you’re ready to list your Erie County home, we want to help! As a professional team of experienced Realtors, we can help you list and market your home, and ultimately sell it for the greatest possible amount of money. Learn more about the service we offer our home sellers, then contact us to get started!