When deciding to sell your home, one thing to consider is your home’s curb appeal. Curb appeal is the attractiveness of the home and its surroundings when being viewed from the street. This includes features of your house like the front entry, yard, driveway, and sidewalk. Enhancing your curb appeal can help make a great first impression and even help your home sell faster. Here are four steps to take when enhancing your home’s curb appeal.
Step 1: Do Some Cleaning Up
It is important to start with cleaning up the outside of your house. You want to clean before you do any painting or upgrading. Cleaning up can be as simple as scrubbing a small area or as extreme as power washing everything in sight. It would be a good idea to clean the siding, porch steps, sidewalks, and driveway. During the cleanup, you will also want to repair or replace anything that has become broken or missing. If a potential buyer notices something broken outside, they might think there are things broken inside and stray away from wanting to see the rest of your home.
Step 2: Do Some Painting
Now that the exterior is cleaned, it is all ready for some painting. You might consider going simple by only painting the front door, trim, or shutter. Or you could also consider painting the entire house. When painting just the door, trim, or shutters, you will want to consider the existing color of the house and find a color that would complement it or help to highlight features of the house. When painting the entire house, you could refresh the existing color or choose a new color. It is best to stay away from trying to make a bold statement because this could turn people away.
Step 3: Clean Up the Yard
You can start your yard cleanup by pulling the weeds, pruning the shrubs, and greening up the grass. A healthy yard will be more appealing than one that looks like it is dying. Some other ideas would be adding mulch, planting new trees, or adding a flower bed or flower boxes. When adding trees, always consider the climate you live in, how big the tree will grow, and how it will frame your house. By adding a flower garden or flower boxes, you can give your house a little pop of color. Flower boxes can be added to a railing or under a window, or you could go with small planters on your steps. A clean yard will go a long way for enhancing your curb appeal.
Step 4: Enhance Visual Interest
Fixing and replacing the little details of your home can add to the curb appeal as well. It might be a good idea to upgrade your mailbox. This can be done by repainting it or even replacing it. It is best to follow your city’s regulation when making any mailbox decisions. Another little detail to think about is replacing your house numbers. You will want your numbers to be seen, so keep this in mind. And it is a good idea to match the existing finish of other metals, like your exterior lighting. You might also consider replacing your lighting. Keep in mind your style of home and what the lighting is being used. You might consider adding solar lights to your landscaping to highlight the home’s attributes. By adding outdoor decor like birdbaths, metal cutouts, sculptures, or wind chimes, you can add more visual interest for your house.
