When the time comes to sell a home, one facet you can’t overlook is the first impression people will have of it. You may have performed all the most important repairs or made some great additions, but if it doesn’t look good from the exterior, you won’t get as many offers. And the offers that you do get won’t be as attractive.
This is why you have to give special attention to your property’s esthetic and how it will affect potential buyers. However, there is no point in going in the red just so you can impress people. There are some ways that you can significantly improve the way your house looks from the outside without going overboard. Here are a few easy and cost-effective ways to improve your house’s curb appeal.
Give it a Nice Deep Clean
One of the best things you can do to make sure that your house has a good first impression is to make sure that it’s sparkling clean. On the other hand, few things can turn off a buyer quicker than stuff scattered all over the yard or grime on the siding.
This is why you should consider having a team come in to perform a deep power wash of your whole property. You could work with a team like Brighthouse that can handle almost any exterior cleaning job you can throw at them. They could have the whole job done in less than a day, and make sure your property looks perfect for your next open house.
Plant a Container Garden on the Front Porch and your Backyard
If you don’t have much greenery or your landscaping is a bit bland, you’d be surprised at how much a nice container garden can lively up a porch. The same can be said about the backyard. Planting a container garden is also something that can be done in less than a day, and is pretty affordable as well. The best thing is that you don’t have to do any digging. You could also add window and rail boxes if you really want to complete the look.
Add Porch Curtains
Staying with the porch, another thing you could do is add some porch curtains. People don’t see those everywhere and can turn any porch into a getaway. You could accentuate the look by adding a porch swing and some nice outdoor furniture.
Give Your Facade a Face Lift
There are tons of other things that you can do to your house’s facade to make it stand out. You could start by replacing or painting the front door. A fresh coat of paint could transform the whole front, especially if you choose the right color. Some of the best colors for front doors include black, charcoal grey, and red.
While you’re at it, you could add some nice gold-colored fixtures, door handles, numbers, and a mailbox. When you’ll be all set and done, you’ll barely recognize your front porch. Not to mention that all of this could be done for less than $1000.
Have Your Driveway Resurfaced
If you have an asphalt driveway, you might consider having it resurfaced, especially if it’s been a while. There’s something about a fresh looking driveway that raises confidence in a property. Just a few cracks, however, could be enough to have someone reconsider. If you can’t resurface, at least make sure that you fix any visible holes and cracks.
Give the Lawn a Manicure
A bad looking lawn is a surefire way to scare people away or lower the perceived value of your property by a few thousand. We’re not saying that you should have your whole lawn resodded, but at least make sure that you clean it up and give it a fresh cut.
Also, know that there are some tricks that you can use to make those yellow patches disappear. There is non-toxic paint made specifically for lawns that can allow you to fix it in spots. This is a good last-minute solution, especially when considering that you don’t expect to stay there for long. Note that this is something you could decide to do yourself or hire someone to do it for you.
Take Care of Your Flower Beds
Freshly manicured flower beds also make for a great impression and show that a homeowner really cares about the details. First, make sure that you clear them of any debris and buy some mulch. Make sure you have enough to cover your entire beds. Mulch will not only make them look cleaner but reduce the number of weeds while keeping moisture in.
The choice of flowers can also make a difference. In spring and summer, for instance, you could go for bright annuals and go with autumn colors like orange, yellows, and reds in fall. Annuals can be found already in bloom for cheap in packs of 12 to 48 in most home improvement and garden stores.
This is a project that could be done for less than $100. Mulch costs less than $3 a bag in most stores, and you can get a flat of annuals for around $20. But the impression they will make will be worth much more.
Time Yourself Correctly
Whether it’s for a house visit or when taking pictures, the time of the day can make a huge difference on the impact. You want people to come when the sun is out so they can see the house shine in all its glory. The same goes for photos.
However, you don’t want to take pictures around noon. You get harsh shadows when the sun is straight above, so it’s better to aim for late afternoon pictures of early in the morning. Also, make sure that you pick a bright sunny day with a clear blue sky. This will make the home more bright and inviting and make a much better impression on people viewing your listing.
Conclusion
These are just some of the things that you can do to increase your home’s curb appeal and make it more attractive. All of these can be done on a shoestring budget and should provide great returns on your investment.
