Curb Appeal is Crucial
First Impressions Matter more than you think
If you think Curb Appeal is just the title of another HGTV show, think again. From the moment your home hits the market and the first listing photos appear online, buyers begin forming opinions. In most cases, the first photo they'll see is the front of your home. Your goal is to make them want to click—not keep scrolling. Here are a few simple ways to improve your home's curb appeal before the first buyer ever steps through the front door.
Clean Everything!
Photos won’t typically show dirt and grime around the front door but in-person showings will put the area under a microscope. Windows smudged with doggy nose prints, grimy front doors, and cobwebs in the corners will give the impression that your home hasn't been well maintained. In just 30-60 minutes, you can have the front stoop looking fresh and welcoming to buyers. Approach your front door as if you’re a buyer and take a good hard look. Make sure to sweep down the front and maybe even hose it down. If you have outdoor furniture, give that a wash-down as well. When agents are fumbling with the lockbox, buyers spend time looking around the front door/entry area. In fact, this is the area where buyers typically stand still the longest during a showing. Cleanliness here will set the stage for the entire showing so make sure it’s in tip-top condition.
Check Your Landscaping
Dead flowers and bushes, overgrown grass, and abundant weeds will give the impression that your yard is too much to maintain. If seasonally appropriate, replace dead bushes and shrubs. If the timing isn’t right, just remove them. It’s better to have no shrubs than dead ones. Trim the lawn, deadhead the flowers, and weed the rock/mulch beds. This is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to improve your home's curb appeal.
Fix the Apron
The area where the driveway meets up with the front area of the garage is the apron. If it’s settling, separating, or has heavy cracking, consider getting that fixed before listing. It is an area that buyers will see right away and tends to make buyers nervous if there are gaps or bulges. Buyers often wonder whether a damaged apron is simply cosmetic or a sign of larger foundation or drainage issues. You probably have been meaning to fix it for years. Now’s the time.
Paint
Is your paint faded? Peeling? Chipped? Or just outdated? This is a great time to address it. Chipped and peeling paint are especially concerning for homes built prior to 1978 because the paint could contain lead. Lead-based paint is most concerning when it’s chipped or peeling so hire a professional to safely sand/paint the areas that are damaged. If the paint is faded or outdated, consider repainting the exterior. Many houses have vinyl exteriors on the sides and the back of the house so only the front would need to be painted and it might be less expensive than you think. Of course, if you repaint, don’t go with a color that’s too bold or too trendy- it might turn buyers off.
Not sure where to start? Read my guide to choosing exterior paint colors and learn from my mistakes.
Simple Details
To cap it all off, throw out a new “welcome” mat and maybe add planters with fresh flowers near the door. Make sure the doorknob and lock work properly and don’t “stick”, making them difficult to use. Make sure the house numbers are visible from the street and that your lighting is bright, with all warm-toned lightbulbs of the same wattage. And if your doorbell has seen better days, replacing it is an inexpensive upgrade that can make the entry feel more polished. Plus, if you have a video doorbell and plan to take it with you, now’s the time to replace it with a standard doorbell.
Improving your home's curb appeal doesn't have to cost thousands of dollars. A little cleaning, a few repairs, and some thoughtful updates can make a huge difference in how buyers perceive your home and those first impressions can carry through the entire showing.