Especially when selling a home, looks do matter and the aesthetic appeal of the exterior of a home, (AKA: its "curb appeal") is one of its most important selling points, and sadly it's either not dealt with or it's done at the very last minute and poorly executed.
The more potential buyers a seller can pull inside the home then obviously the odds of selling the home increases. One critical way to increase those odds is enhancing the exterior of the home. If property done, it can make the home pleasant to the eyes and thus will pull potential buyers off the street and into your home.
It's often said by sellers that they really don't want to spend a lot of money on this process. Many sellers don't realize how simple it really is to improve a homes exterior with a minimal amount of money and just a few hours.
Here are a few simple steps a seller can take to increase curb appeal.
1. One of the most important aspects of curb appeal is a well-maintained lawn. Overgrown grass or areas of dirt patches can make a home seem uncared for and if the outside of the home looks like a mess then most potential buyers will assume that the exterior of the home is a reflection of its interior.
2. After you cut and maintain the lawn give the shrubs and hedges a trim as well which will further enhance the homes curb appeal by making it look more inviting and cared for. Also, a seller can add some potted flowers around the homes front door to add some color to the homes exterior.
3. Throughout the year the home is subjected to all kinds of weather from rain and wind, to excessive heat and bitter cold. All of these elements can wreak havoc on the homes facade. If the home has siding, then use a power-washer to clean it which is an effective tool for quickly removing stains and dirt. Once it's clean defects and damage may be seen more easily and so you can take care of those issues as well.
4. Once the power-wash is complete and the siding is clean now is the time to focus on the homes exterior paint. It is widely known that the paint on a home can greatly affect its curb appeal. Peeling and discolored paint can be an immediate turn-off for potential home buyers particularly since most buyers today want turn-key homes. Grab some paint and a brush and touch up any areas of cracked and/or peeling paint. In this article we are talking about inexpensive ways to create nice curb appeal, but if you have the time and money, consider repainting the house if a touch up job is just not enough.
5. When we were growing up how many times did our parents tell us to clean up our room because they were going to have company over? Well think about that when it comes to the homes exterior. If you're a potential buyer looking for a new home would you want to see all kinds of thing strewn all over the front lawn like, garden tools, toys and bicycles? No, because it makes the home look like a mess. So, take a few minutes and put away all the garbage cans and garden tools so that just your beautiful home and its well maintained yard are all potential buyers see.
6. And lastly, don't forget the windows and the roof which all contribute to a homes curb appeal. Clean both sides of all the windows, and check the roof for leaves, twigs and branches that may have fallen from the last storm. Make sure that the entire front of the home looks fantastic from top to bottom. Oh, and don't forget the backyard! But we'll save that for another article.
Just as home sellers go through their check list to create great curb appeal for their home, real estate agents and Realtors(R) also have a large checklist to go through when they are selling a home. One important part of that check list is the NHD report. When you order your NHD report make sure to remember that the most complete and accurate NHD report available anywhere is the one that is provided by Property I.D.!