First impressions are everything when it comes to selling your home.
Potential buyers should be interested in your property from the moment they park their car at the curb. To help you make your home stand out, take a closer look at what you should and shouldn’t do when it comes to improving your home’s curb appeal.
DON’T go overboard with adornments
From holiday decorations to personal touches like door hangers and yard signs, it’s important to remember to keep exterior ornamentation minimal. Potential buyers should be able to picture themselves in your home, and too much personalization can make that impossible for them.
DO paint or replace your front door
Your front door plays an important role in shaping a buyer’s first impressions of your home, so consider painting it a vibrant color, such as red or blue, or a contrasting color to the rest of the house to help it stand out. And if your door is damaged and irreparable, replace it with something more modern, which, as a bonus, often offers a high return on investment.
DON’T neglect your roof and gutters
Besides being your home’s first lines of defense against water damage, your roof and gutters can also impact what potential buyers think of it. If there’s moss or algae on the roof, missing or damaged shingles, or dangling gutters, they will notice and likely assume that the rest of the house hasn’t been taken care of either. Be sure to repair or replace problem areas before you put your home on the market to prevent them from making buyers less interested in your property.
DO add outdoor lighting
Buyers often like to see what a home looks like at various points of the day, including in the evening. To accommodate them, consider adding lighting to the exterior of your home. Place solar-powered lights along your walkway leading to the front door, or invest in downlights or uplights to highlight your home’s best features.
DON’T forget about your mailbox
The little details matter when it comes to curb appeal, so if your mailbox is outdated or worn out, it’s probably time to replace it. Find one that adds character to the landscape or creates a bold statement by your door. Since a mailbox is a frequently used item, any potential buyer will appreciate having a new, stylish one for years to come.
DO pressure-wash your sidewalks, driveway, and patio
The exterior of your home needs to be in tip-top shape if you want to get the best offer, and a quick cleaning is the best way to get it sparkling. When the temperature is mild, you may want to pressure-wash your front and back porch, sidewalks, and driveway, working to make these areas grime-free. If your brick or siding has any algae or dirt buildup, you can also use the pressure washer to make it look brand new.
DON’T make your landscape a headache
While you may love attending to a large garden or fickle plants, the next homeowners may not; a high-maintenance yard or garden might even turn them off completely. Try to simplify your home’s landscape as much as possible. A ton of different species from various regions likely won’t last long if they’re not regularly attended to. Instead, stick with plants specific to your area that will grow back year after year and require minimal maintenance.
DO get rid of dead plants and leaves
Piles of dried leaves or dead branches are unsightly at any point of the year, but they are especially off-putting when your house is on the market. Buyers don’t want to see a yard in disarray, and it can even lead them to think the rest of the house is unkept. Break out the rake, cut down any dead or hanging branches, and work to rid your yard of any unappealing materials.
DON’T leave rusted or rotted materials
There’s nothing more concerning than rotted wood or rusted hardware on doors or windows. These will catch potential buyers’ attention and make your house look neglected and worse for wear. Don’t ignore these basics—be sure to repair them quickly, and bring in a professional for projects that are beyond your skill level.
DO keep up with your neighborhood’s aesthetic
Whatever updates you make to your home, you don’t want to stray too far outside of the norm for your neighborhood. For example, painting your exterior a bright color when the rest of your neighborhood’s is neutral may make your home stand out for the wrong reason. Instead, opt for colors that will appeal to most potential buyers, such as white or gray.
Improving your home’s curb appeal can help you attract more potential buyers and sell your home for a better price. Be sure to work with a trusted real estate agent to better determine what updates you should make to your home’s exterior.
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