Getting Your Home Ready to Sell
Getting Your Home Ready to Sell
Curb appeal is king when it comes to selling your home. An attractive exterior will entice buyers into coming inside for a closer look. On the other hand, a beautiful interior will be negated by a dingy, dirty exterior. Here are some handy and budget-conscious ways to boost your home’s curb appeal and attract more potential buyers!
First off, it’s imperative to develop a buyer’s point of view. Walk up to your house as if you’ve never seen it before. Analyze the property: Is it tidy? Attractive? Well-maintained? What is your first impression of the house? Overall, what can be improved to boost this home’s curb appeal? Note its best features and brainstorm ways to enhance these. Similarly, list the home’s problem areas and focus your efforts on creating improvements.
Here are some overall tips to creating an attractive exterior:
- Manicure the lawn. Mow the lawn, weed and mulch the flower beds, rake up leaves, edge the sidewalks, remove growth between brick walkways, trim tree branches that are too close the roof, stow garden tools and equipment. Give your front lawn an overall well-maintained appearance.
- Tidy up the house. Pressure wash dingy siding and decks. Kill any mold or mildew growth on the house, sidewalks, driveway or roof. Wash the windows, clear out gutters, sweep the porch, repair damaged stairs or sagging railings.
- Don’t overlook the small things. If it’s within your budget, consider a new paint job to liven up a dingy house. Browse houses in your area to find attractive color/trim combinations. In addition, install a new, more attractive door, perhaps one with leaded glass. If that’s out of your budget, replacing the door’s hardware and simply giving it a fresh coat of paint will work wonders.
Cultivating a homey evening appeal is also crucial, as many interested buyers may drive by the house after dark to check it out. In general, a well-lit, cozy appearance is the most appealing to potential buyers. Here are some ideas to enhance your home’s evening appeal:
- Install low-wattage definition lighting along the front walkway, sidewalks and large flower beds.
- Turn on interior lights to add the to cozy, warm atmosphere
- Install attractive front porch lighting, either overhead or old-fashioned lamps.
Investing time and effort into creating an appealing home exterior will pay off when your home sells
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