When was the last time you walked outside your home—from the mailbox to the garden? How about running around the block and passing by your own home and looking at it from another perspective? Will it draw your eyes? Is the front yard attractive enough that your eyes will focus on the plants and flower boxes? Or, as with other properties, your eyes will simply move to the next home and the next, and so on?
The exterior of your home is the first thing that buyers will notice. There is no getting around that fact. You want to make it as positive, inviting, and attractive as possible. If the exteriors don’t attract them, then that’s already a point less for you. They already have a reason to say no. And yes, homebuyers will say no just because they don’t like how your house looks from the outside.
Fix the Roof and Gutters
While this isn’t the easiest thing on this list, it makes sense to fix the roof and gutters first and foremost. Homeowners don’t want to deal with roof leaks and gutter blockages. This is not just about aesthetics; it’s about the functionality of your home. You might even want to look at hiring seamless gutter contractors to improve the gutter construction that’s essential to the overall aesthetics of the house.
Repaint Your Exterior Walls
A little paint goes a long way. Not to mention, since a gallon of paint only costs about $25, you don’t need to spend so much. When choosing paint, go for neutral tones. Sure, you want your home to pop out amid a sea of ordinary-looking homes. However, since you are going to sell it, you don’t know how potential buyers are going to react if you choose bright red or bright green for your exterior walls. A neutral shade is the safest bet unless you already have a target market in mind.
Depending on the size of your home, repainting the walls will take anywhere from two days to a week. If you have a second floor, it might even take longer, and you need special ladders and equipment. Even if it’s a little hard, never put your home in the market without repainting its exterior. The new paint will make a lot of difference.
Plant a Tree
A tree in front of the house is more welcoming than anything you can put in the garden. Of course, it would be so much better if you just planted a seed 10 years ago, so you might already have something now. If that’s not the case, then you have to find trees for sale and transport. You might even want to think about planting two trees at the entrance of your property so it will create a kind of arc that “hides” the entrance of your home. Some crave this kind of privacy.
You can find trees for as low as $50 apiece. They’re not so expensive, but their impact on potential buyers will be huge. They make a property more inviting and contribute to it having a calming presence. Trees create a zen-like ambiance to a property.
Add Flower Boxes
Do you want to add more color to your home? Flowers are the safest bet. However, you should create sections in your garden and flowers don’t always grow well beside other types of plants and shrubs. You should add flower boxes along the seams of your property or along the exterior walls of the house itself. Some gardening stores sell flower boxes. If you want, you can also make one on your own.
Light Up the Walkway
New light fixtures will upgrade the overall look of your home. There is no question about it. When you do add lights, make sure they will illuminate and highlight the walkways, sideways, and hardscapes. It doesn’t matter how attractive your home is in the morning when no one can see it in the evening. Make sure there is enough light source not only for aesthetic appeal but for safety as well.
Selling your home is a big decision to make. But along with that decision comes the reality that you want to sell it for the right price. Even if you need to sell it quickly, it will help to make a few upgrades that will delay that process for a few days. If you improve your home’s curb appeal, you will receive more offers for it and sell it quicker than if there are still a lot of things to fix there.
