Selling real estate is no easy feat, especially when you are trying to maximize the sale price. You paid a lot of money for your home to your ongoing mortgage payments, and you can expect a return. Unfortunately, US home sales peaked in 2021, and are steadily declining, making it more challenging for sellers to attract potential buyers.
Luckily, there's a time-tested strategy that can drive leads and potentially increase the sales price. In many cases, it doesn't even have to cost you a dime. Let's talk about some helpful curb appeal ideas to help you sell your home faster!
Why Is Curb Appeal So Important?
Real estate curb appeal refers to the visual appeal of your home's exterior "from the curb". Essentially, it is your home's first impression of anybody driving past or viewing the property on an online listing.
Improving the curb appeal of your home is an essential part of selling your home. It can help drive interest from prospective buyers, retain visitors who come to view it, and even increase the sale price.
That's right, increasing your curb appeal can increase the value of your home by up to 7%. On a $300,000 home, that's an increase of $21,000!
However, that isn't the limit. Generating more interest can help increase the value of your sale even more, as potential buyers may place more bids.
Moreover, the good news is that you don't have to break the bank by replacing your siding or taking on massive projects. Even small changes can make a massive difference when it comes to curb appeal. Here are some of the best strategies to save money and make your home shine!
1. Clean Up a Little
Some spring cleaning is the best thing you can do to increase curb appeal. Nobody's yard or exterior is perfectly clean, so put in a little elbow grease and make your home shine bright!
If you have the time, take a weekend, engage the family, and clean up both inside and out before listing or showing your home. Even a few little steps can go a long way, especially:
- Pressure washing (driveway, siding, etc.)
- Removing trash or debris from your yard
- Cleaning doors and windows
- Removing branches and leaves from your roof
- Cleaning porch furniture and fixtures
- Cleaning garage doors
As the list goes on, the same logic applies to your landscaping. Trimming some bushes, mowing the lawn, and "cleaning up" can go a long way!
2. Paint Your Front Door
The front door is the most central fixture on a home when viewed from the curb. While it will cost a pretty penny to replace, it's inexpensive and effective to repaint it.
Painting your front door a complementary color to the rest of your home is a great way to boost curb appeal. A fresh coat of paint can really help your house shine.
To start, take your door off of the hinges and lay it down in an area where you don't mind getting paint. Your yard, garage, or basement will be perfect for this, so just lay down some drop cloths and ensure you have the proper ventilation.
Remember to cover any glass portions with painter's tape. When you remove it, carefully paint close to the glass and quickly remove any paint that lands on the glass with a paper towel or lint-free cloth. A paint roller or sprayer is perfect for beginners, but a brush will help you get the hard-to-reach places.
3. Replace (or Remove) Shutters
Shutters work in certain areas, but they can appear outdated in others. Depending on your location, it may make more sense to replace or remove your shutters to modernize your home's exterior and improve your curb appeal.
If you want to repaint your shutters, you can reuse the paint you used on your door! Color-matching will look great, so make sure you use the same color if you choose to replace them.
However, if you choose to remove your shutters, take note of the siding behind them. Sun damage can fade the siding, leaving a noticeable "print" behind your shutters. If that's the case, you will have to replace or repaint your siding.
4. Add or Maintain Plants
Every home looks better with some bushes or shrubs in front. If you already have some, trim them and make them look more professional. Fresh trimming will likely last through the showing process, so it's a one-and-done deal.
If you don't have plants in front of your home, this is an inexpensive way to increase curb appeal before listing. Even grabbing some potted plants from your local garden store will go a long way.
However, if you have a Sunday to spare, consider getting some plants, digging a few holes, and laying some mulch. Some freshly planted shrubs or flowers will help improve the look of your home immediately!
5. Lay Some Grass
To be clear, grass doesn't grow overnight. Still, if you plan on listing your home in the next couple of months, doing this in advance is a great way to improve your curb appeal. A thick, healthy lawn can dramatically increase the look of your home.
6. Lay Some Stones
Landscaping doesn't have to be expensive. You don't need to buy tons of bricks or anything fancy to make things look nice.
Remember, landscaping is never perfect, even when professionals do it. However, you can always cover up imperfections to make them look intentional.
For example, if you lay some mulch around your bushes, don't bother trying to blend the mulch into your lawn. No matter how much you rake, the line will never be perfect. The wind will ruin it. Therefore, placing some stones to give a clear divide can dramatically improve the look. If you collect the rocks yourself, this is entirely free!
Moreover, the same applies to your walkways, gardens, firepits, and more. Strategically placing stones can take your landscaping to the next level for little to no financial investment.
7. Hang Some Wall Art
Wall art can accent the front of your house and make it appear more "homey" and inviting. Consider adding some wall art to your front porch or installing some decorations in your front yard. It's an easy way to add some unique style to your home's exterior.
8. Look At What You Have
Every home is unique, and it's important to take stock of what you have to work with. Take a close look at the front of your home and ask yourself questions like:
- Does my fence need upgrading or repairing?
- Should I replace my windows?
- What could my lawn use?
- How could I improve the mailbox garden?
- What stands out on my home?
- What fixtures should I try to highlight?
These are great questions to ask yourself before taking on any projects on your home, large or small. If you're still unsure of ways you can improve your curb appeal, talk to a professional seller agent to see what's best for your specific property.
Market Your Real Estate Appropriately
Improving your curb appeal is great, but only if people can see it. Make sure you use the right real estate marketing platforms to your advantage and hire a selling agent who can help give you more specialized advice.
Every home and every market is different. Having a dedicated selling agent can make a world of difference. They can guide you on what makes the most financial sense and help you market your property effectively.
Also, if you want your curb appeal to shine bright for prospective buyers, make sure you hire a professional real estate photographer. They can help take your listing to the next level.
From there, you can sit back and let the professionals handle the rest. If you've done the work to improve your curb appeal, you can expect a generous return!
Use These Curb Appeal Ideas to Generate Leads
Take the value of your home and multiply it by 0.07. Would you spend a weekend or two working for that much money? Most people would.
Now that you know some helpful curb appeal ideas, use them to your advantage and start generating leads today. A little work goes a long way to improving your listing and driving prospective buyers. Use these tips to your advantage today!
Stay up to date with our latest tips for your home, and don't hesitate to contact us with any questions or for help selling your home!