Last Updated on July 17, 2022 by Luke Feldbrugge
As the saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression, so this post takes a look at how to improve curb appeal when selling your home. Ask any home buyer if they would place a bid on an “ugly home”. You would find out how important curb appeal can be to making a good first impression and selling your home for the price you want.
The National Association of REALTORS says that “homes with high curb appeal tend to sell for an average of 7% more than similar houses with an uninviting exterior,” and that number can climb to 14% in slower markets. Good curb appeal also helps sell your home faster.
So, making a few small upgrades can produce great return on investment (ROI), and improving your curb appeal on a budget is possible. Here are some tips on how to improve curb appeal when selling your home.
8 Tips on How to Improve Curb Appeal for Your Home
1) Add Some Greenery
Adding leafy plants, flowers, shrubs, bushes or small trees can instantly boost your curb appeal. You can hire a professional landscaper, or just look for inspiration online and then go to the garden store yourself and pick out a few plants to compliment your space. Plants can be expensive, so if you’re looking to stay within a small budget, choose cheaper options like hostas, ferns or azaleas.
If you don’t have a lot of space, not to worry. Even a couple of potted plants on the front steps can enhance the look of your home instantly. If your skill-sets aren’t rooted in gardening, however, you might be looking at your front garden in complete despair. There’s no need to worry though because there are options available for even the least green-thumbed. If you have a lawn that you struggle to maintain, for example, you can get artificial turf installed, helping your home to look well-maintained all year round.
2) Maintain Your Landscaping
You don’t have to make additions to your landscaping. But you should make sure that any landscaping you do have looks pristine, because a shabby-looking yard can negatively impact your curb appeal. Make sure you wash down your paving, paint your fencing, pick up any sticks and edge along the sides of your walkways. Hiring an arborist is a good idea to ensure that you do not have dead or damaged trees in your backyard as well as trees that could be a danger to the home. They can also do any trimming of branches that are too close to your home. Make sure to keep your lawn mowed and try to pull as many weeks as you can. A clean look to your landscaping can improve your curb appeal without eating into your budget.
3) Clean Your Façade
The outside of your home is going to get dirty. It’s natural. But it’s also unsightly and can be off-putting to prospective buyers. So, before you take pictures or host any open houses, get a power washer and clean the façade thoroughly, removing any grit or grime that may have built up over the years. If you don’t have a power washer, you can easily rent them at a low cost, making a quick clean an easy and budget friendly way to improve your curb appeal.
Don’t miss our 10 Home Staging Tips to Sell Your House and 6 Tips for Getting a House Ready to Sell.
4) Paint Your Front Door
One of the easiest ways to enhance curb appeal on a budget is to refresh your front door with a new coat of paint. A bold color that stands out or a more subtle shade that blends in with your color scheme helps make a good first impression and makes the house feel more inviting. If you have a natural wood door and want to retain that look, consider adding a coat of stain to make it look its best. However, you might feel your old door needs to be replaced. If that’s the case, you can get the work done by a professional, or do it yourself. The same goes for windows; new and improved windows can go a long way to improve the exterior of a home.
5) Use Colorful Accents
Understanding how to improve curb appeal starts by creating a vision for the exterior of your home and then executing on that vision. So, establishing a color scheme is a must. But the overall color of your house, accented with bolder colors, adds interest to your design. A little pop of color also goes a long way to making a home feel more inviting. Flowers, pillows on outdoor seating, an outdoor rug or shutters all offer opportunities for color.
6) Add Lighting to Pathways
Lighting plays an important part in how your home is perceived, both inside and out. So, add some allure and elegance by adding lighting to any walkways, particularly leading up to the front door. Small lights can be purchased at any home and garden store and you can even get solar-powered lights that are both budget and eco-friendly. You can also consider adding bistro light strings to any deck or patio to really class it up.
7) Refresh Concrete Walkways
In addition to adding lighting, you can enhance concrete walkways even further by giving them a little TLC. You can simply power wash them to remove any stains, discoloration or grime. You can also add brick edging or special concrete stain to add some color and give new life. Make sure to pull any weeds that may be lurking in the cracks or along the edges.
8) Update House Numbers
Learning how to improve curb appeal is about paying attention to the details. You may forget your house number is even there. But buyers will definitely take notice, especially if they can’t find the house. Replace the old numbers with a fresh look in a trendy font. Also make sure that they can be visible from the street. This will help your home stand out on the block and help buyers imagine having that address for themselves.
Upgrading the look of your home can be a great way to sell your house and increase your sale price. Even if you’re looking to improve your curb appeal on a budget, there are simple solutions that take little time or effort. By making small investments to the exterior of your home, you could enjoy a much better home selling experience.
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