Tips To Boost Your Home's Curb Appeal

First impressions are as critical in real estate as they are in every other aspect of life. Research suggests that an impression may be formed within just a few seconds, and that first impressions tend to color our perceptions overall. With so little time to create a positive impression in potential buyers' minds, homeowners cannot overlook the critical first impression their property creates. Enhancing your home's curb appeal can be an easy, low-cost way to ensure that potential buyers feel good about your property before they ever set foot in the door. Boost your home's curb appeal with a few simple tips.

Keep Up With Yard Maintenance And Add Greenery

Correctly or incorrectly, few things can create the impression of neglect like an overgrown lawn or front yard. Keeping your yard well maintained, trimmed, and looking full is an easy way to ensure that potential buyers form a good first impression. Overseeding your lawn can help to fill in bare spots and will choke out weeds and clover, making your lawn appear more uniform and attractive. To overseed, first mow, rake, and aerate your lawn, then amend the soil if necessary, and spread seed. Once the seed is down, add fertilizer and water the lawn regularly. The seed should start to sprout within a week or so, but it's best to refrain from mowing until the new grass has reached about two inches in height. 

Ensuring that your shrubbery is carefully trimmed and filled in with seasonally appropriate flowers can make a big difference in the appearance of your home. Cutting shrubs away from windows can also have the added benefit of allowing more natural light into the home, always a sought-after feature. In fact, adding plants is a great way to maximize your home's curb appeal with little effort. A flower box, or potted or hanging plants are a great way to make your home seem inviting and create a feeling of well-being in a potential buyer.

In winter, ensure that your drive and walks are shoveled — you never know when a potential buyer might decide to drive by to see your home, and keeping your front area maintained at all times is a great way to ensure that any potential buyer always sees your home at its best.

Paint Your Front Door

Small changes to your front door can make a big difference in buyers' impressions of your home. Painting your front door a color that complements the other colors of your home's exterior — nothing too outlandish — can give the front of your home a refresh. Switching out the front door's hardware is another easy way to make your home seem new and inviting without a great deal of investment or work. 

Think About Adding, Repairing, Or Replacing Your Fencing

Your front fencing is another item potential homebuyers will notice immediately. If your front fencing is in disrepair or isn't attractive when potential buyers pull up to the curb, consider adding new composite or vinyl picket fencing can be a relatively low-cost way to spruce up your home's curb appeal. Attractive fencing is a plus for homebuyers who may want privacy or a way to share their front yard with their pets, and can add appeal to your home's landscaping.

Get Ready To Powerwash

A pressure washer rental typically costs between $40 and $100 per day, and can be a great way to enhance your home's curb appeal. Pressure washing is a quick and easy way to clean your driveway and your home's facade, enhancing its brightness and appeal. Before you powerwash, make sure to replace or repair any broken or damaged siding to avoid further damage to your home. 

If you're able to, consider pressure washing your roof. A rooftop that is discolored or has accumulated leaves or pine needles can be unattractive to buyers. Pressure washing your rooftop can make it more uniform and make buyers less likely to wonder if it is damaged or in need of replacement.

Replace The Little Things

If your home's mailbox, house numbers, entryway lighting, or outdoor furniture are in disrepair, this is the time to replace, repair, or repaint them. Adding new details can make your home's entryway seem new, even if your home is not. And replacing these items is generally simple and low-cost, making this the easiest way to give your home's exterior a facelift.

Cut Out Clutter

Clutter in the front of your home, whether it's from a half-started project or simply too many decorative elements, can make your home seem untidy or disorganized. Buyers tend to be seeking out minimalist, clean lines that allow them to see the home to its best advantage. Decluttering is as important outside as it is inside your home. Even if you enjoy a lot of decoration or an abundance of plants, chances are most buyers will prefer a cleaner, more minimalist look to their home's exterior. Ensure that clutter is cleared away and properly stored before welcoming potential buyers.

Let There Be Light

A well-lit home is an inviting home. Ensure that your home has adequate, attractive path and exterior lighting to ensure that any buyers who visit in the evenings feel welcome. LED lighting is relatively easy to install, low-cost, and low-maintenance. When in doubt, always err on the side of making your home brighter and more welcoming. 

When Home Means More, You Need a Team With More to Offer

Have questions about how to grab a buyer's attention before they ever walk through the door? Your local Baird & Warner agent is here to help make the journey easier from beginning to end.

Home is about so much more than just four walls. Buying or selling a home is a big deal, and with everything we experienced in the last year, our homes have never been more important. That's why your local Baird & Warner agent is with you at every step of the way, with the tools and support you need to make your real estate journey easier — including in-house connections with local experts in mortgage and title. 

So whether you're looking to buy a home or get yours in perfect shape to sell, your Baird & Warner agent can help you through every part of the buying and selling process.