Is ‘Curb Appeal’ Really That Important When Selling Your Home?
Yes, and Here’s Why:
Do you remember the first time you shopped for or purchased a home? If so, think back to that moment. What did you first notice? Do you remember certain aspects of the home’s appearance, or perhaps some unique landscape feature? Was it the bright color of the freshly-painted door or the glossy sheen from the clean windows?
The concept of ‘curb appeal’ – that is, how your home appears when viewing from the curb – is an important one, especially when selling your home. Below we’ll share why.
How Much Does Curb Appeal Affect Home Value?
Having great curb appeal can add up to 7% to the final sale price of your home. In a slow market with high inventory, that number can climb as high as 14%.
Make A Strong First Impression
The first impression that your home gives is one that will last. If your paint is fading or chipped, your siding is damaged, your roof is in disrepair or your gutters are hanging loose, what do you expect a potential buyer to think? It’s safe to assume that if you can’t be bothered to pull the weeds in the garden or rake up the leaves that there may be other maintenance issues lurking.
A few Tips to Boost Your Curb Appeal
- Apply A Fresh Coat of Paint – A fresh coat of paint on your exterior can add curb appeal, PLUS! It’s cost-effective, quick, and can add so much oomph!
- Pressure Wash All Decks, Patios, And Walkways – Spending a couple of hours taking care of this task makes the outside of your home look clean and bright.
- Wash the Windows – This is nobody’s favourite job, but it certainly makes a huge difference when people see clean windows and open curtains
- Swap Out Older, Beat Up Front Door Fixtures – If your front door could use a new handle if only just for looks, it’s worth the investment. First Impressions, you know.
- Plant Some Simple Flora And Fauna – If the time of year doesn’t allow for new plants or flowers, look around to see what else can be done. Potted plants and hanging flowers look inviting near the front entrance.
- Do An All-Around Exterior Clean-Up – Rake the leaves, weed the gardens, mow the lawn, put away any junk, and sweep or shovel the driveway and sidewalks.
Making your home look more appealing to a potential buyer can be easy. Simple touch-ups like these can greatly improve how often your house gets shown.
Remember >>> If it isn’t appealing on the outside, it’s harder to get them inside, even if the inside is spectacular!
Your goal is to sell your home as quickly as possible and for the best price. If your house looks great from the outside, potential buyers will want to explore further.
Appeal To The Drive-By Buyers
You may not be aware, but many potential home buyers won’t bother connecting with your real estate agent or showing up to your open house events. Instead, they’ll drive by to get a feel for how the house and property look from the outside. Some might peer into your backyard or take a quick look around the lot as well. It’s critical that your home appear in peak condition at all times during the sales process. If your curb appeal declines, you may end up losing out on a potential sale.
Set Your Home Apart From The Neighbors
Contrast is another reason why focusing on your home’s curb appeal is important. Potential home buyers will be comparing your house with others on the same street and across the neighborhood. If your house is the best looking one on the block, it’s more likely to sell for a high price than if it’s the runt of the litter.
Let’s Talk!
I am passionate about helping you own your own home, even if you have borderline credit or need down payment assistance. Interested in real estate investing? I have specialized investment programs. Ask me!
Tom Booth, Broker at StreetCity Realty Inc.
Mobile: 519-330-0714
Email: [email protected]