Ask home buyers what curb appeal is and each one will give you a different answer. Curb appeal can be hard to describe, but it’s an easy thing to spot in a home. Homes with curb appeal sell faster and for more money. Since all home sellers want to sell their homes quickly and for a good price, creating curb appeal is a no-brainer. Here are some curb appeal tips you can share with your clients to help them attract buyers.
Lawns need to be manicured regularly in spring and summer because grass grows rapidly. Tell sellers to make their yards look new by mowing the lawn and fertilizing it every week. Those integrating plants should choose ones that match the scale of their homes. A manicured lawn can set off the yard perfectly and make buyers want to linger outdoors.
Outdoor furniture comes in all styles and it’s easy to find a perfect set for an exterior. What’s more, the furniture doesn’t have to be expensive to be impressive. Home sellers can create a cozy spot with a bench and a garden stool. They can add dashes of color with throw pillows. Rocking chairs and a table can also welcome home buyers warmly. Outdoor seating helps buyers to picture themselves in the space and goes a long way towards enticing them to make an offer.
Huge electrical boxes, wires, and piping can make a home less than desirable. Home sellers should paint features that stand out the same color as their homes. This way, they become less visible and attract less attention. Another trick is to paint yard features a color similar to the landscape to ensure they blend in.
One of the biggest eyesores in a home’s exterior is an air conditioner. While it is very useful, it is not something buyers enjoy looking at. In addition, it must not be seen from the street as that is HOA violation. Tell homeowners to put lattice fences around their air conditioners. They can also hide them with potted bushy plants.
Landscape lighting boosts nighttime curb appeal and also adds safety and security. Tell homeowners to get low voltage lighting fixtures and place them along driveways and walkways. They can also use the fixtures to illuminate trees, fences, steps, and other significant landscape features. Lights that fit a home’s style are not only functional, they are decorative. For instance, lights placed next to flowers create a harmonious look.
Many sellers ignore their mailboxes because they think they are too small to be noticed by buyers. How wrong they are! While mailboxes are small in size, they give buyers a first impression of a home. Those whose mailboxes are still in good condition should paint them. This project takes only a few hours.
Homeowners with worn-out mailboxes should replace them with modern ones. They should choose those with lively colors that match their home’s design. The features will impress buyers as well as their mail carriers.
When it comes to selling a home, it’s what’s on the outside that counts. While the inside is important, potential buyers judge a home by what they see outside. A dreary exterior means a house isn’t well taken care of, while a gorgeous one means every detail is looked into. The good news is homeowners don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to make their homes appealing, a few changes can make all the difference. Enlighten your sellers with these curb appeal tips.
Ronique Gibson is an Associate Architect and a LEED Accredited Professional, who has been in the design industry for over 13 years. She started her design blog in 2009 and today it has become a premier destination for helping homeowners with everyday lifestyle challenges. Her readers check in daily for help with their homes, DIY project ideas, recipes, crafts, and inspiration to beautify and enjoy their homes.