Real Estate Marketing & Beyond
When you put your home up for sale, your realtor probably went through a checklist of things to do to ensure you get top dollar. Upgrading your kitchen and bathrooms, decluttering, and giving your walls fresh coats of paint are great ideas; but what about the outside of your home? The condition of the exterior of your home is just as important, or maybe even more so, than the inside. Why? Because if people see a weedy lawn, broken or old windows, and unkempt gardens, they may not even want to go inside for a closer look. Your home must look attractive to potential buyers before they take one step inside. Here is your exterior checklist for greater curb appeal and greater potential to sell for as much as possible:
Lawn
This is probably the first thing that people will notice as they drive up. A healthy, lush lawn gives the impression of a well-tended home and makes potential buyers more confident in the fact that you are a homeowner who takes pride in their property. If you currently have a lawn that has bald spots, is over-run with weeds or pests, or could just use a bit of work, start with planting some grass seed (after you’ve gotten rid of any pests). When planting seeds, make sure you plant varieties that grow best in your regional climate. Kentucky bluegrass seed, for example, is a popular variety that grows well in cool-season regions, where cold winters and cooler summers are the norm.
Walkway
Is the pathway to your door full of broken or cracked patio stones? Or worse, do people have to guess how to make it to your front door? It doesn’t have to be fancy, but it does have to be free of debris such as leaves, toys, etc. and should be safe, with no uneven stones or broken steps.
Garden
You don’t have to have an intricate garden requiring hours of maintenance and weed-pulling every day. Plant a few annuals or perennials and spruce it up with a few garden ornaments – gnomes and fairy gardens are becoming quite popular again!
Front Porch/Door
Again, your front porch should be in good condition and free of toys, debris, etc. Your front door should have a fresh coat of paint if needed and look fresh and clean.
Windows
Your windows should be in good working order and cleaned (get it done professionally if you have high second story windows). You may need to give the sills a fresh coat of paint if they are older and are made of wood.
Roof
Does your roof need to be re-shingled? This is something that some sellers leave for a buyer to do, but it is up to you and of course depends on your budget. Just know that if your roof needs work and you don’t want to do it yourself, it will have to come off the asking price.
Don’t underestimate the power of curb appeal when it comes to selling your home. Keep your lawn well maintained, seeded and mowed; make sure the yard is free of toys and debris, and put a fresh coat of paint on your front door. Make sure that buyers will want to see inside by taking care of the outside. You’d be amazed at how these small changes can bring in plenty of interested buyers!
I'd say another area that needs your attention is your garage door, You can really add curb appeal with a fresh coat of paint or garage door windows.