Remember all of those outdoor projects you have been putting off for the last several years? Well, if you want to put your home on the market, you had better get caught up with the painting, trimming and all of the other projects you have neglected. You see, when it comes to selling your home, first impressions are everything.
The National Association of Realtors says over 60 percent of homebuyers will drive by a home they just saw online. When they drop by your house, what will they see? If they see a yard that is in disarray, chipped paint on the front door and a cracked front window, they might just turn around and drive away.
Your home’s exterior serves as a snapshot of what potential buyers will see when they enter your home. While we know that the interior of your home is in pristine condition and absolutely spotless, nobody is going to see it if the exterior is a mess. Curb appeal is really that important.
Bayou Properties, your residential real estate agency in Houston, offer you these tips to increase your home’s curb appeal.
Upgrade the Front Door
A new front door is just what you need to instantly enhance the entire appearance of your home. In fact, it can actually increase the resale value. Now, a quality front door isn’t cheap, so you might want to visit other options. For example, a coat or two of paint on your front door is enough to boost curb appeal.
Outdoor Lighting
When was the last time you even thought about your outdoor lighting? Our guess is that there are many of you who have never thought about it. Go outside right now and check out your front porch light. It’s pretty disappointing, isn’t it? Swapping out that old and seriously outdated porch light will do wonders for your home’s curb appeal. It also wouldn’t hurt if you added some lighting to the front porch or even some solar lights along the sidewalk to the front door would be nice.
Hardscaping
Does the front of your home need structure? If so, you need to do some hardscaping. A low stone wall, some built-in concrete planters or a stone path are all great ways in which you can add a little structure to your front yard. These added touched look great and potential buyers know that it will last for many years to come.
Cover the Cracks
Cement surfaces can split and crack over the years leaving you with a driveway and sidewalks that don’t look very good. Replace or repair the damaged areas on your driveway and sidewalks and you will be surprised at how fresh your home will look.
Flowers Everywhere
Flowers in front of your house, flowers along the sidewalk and potted flowers on the front porch are all very nice ways to give your home added curb appeal. Planting flowers is one of the most cost-effective ways to make a huge impact on how your home looks. If you don’t know anything about flowers, somebody at your local nursery will be eager to help.
Cover Up the Dead Spots
The problem with having trees in your yard is that they tend to take nutrients from the soil, which leads to dead spot around them. Instead of spending a lot of time trying to restore the grass, make things easier on yourself and simply plant flowers around the base of your trees or apply mulch around them.
Upgrade the Hardware
Don’t overlook the simple things you can do to increase curb appeal. While your front door might look great, you might have an outdated door handle and lock that could be swapped out to make everything look better. Changing out your house numbers is also another simple thing you can do that will make a big difference.
Replace the Mailbox
If you gather mail every day from a weathered black box on top of a rotting post, then you need to have it replaced. A mailbox the is shiny and new with a touch of personality sitting upon a sturdy new post is sure to change the way your home looks for the better.
If you have swapped out your front door and are ready to sell, give Bayou Properties a call.
