Nicole Stevens
First impressions are so crucial in many different aspects of life. From relationships to jobs, even to home owning, a good first impression is an important one. Imagine any of the times you’ve driven through nice neighborhoods, potentially looking for a new place to rent or even buy. You drive slowly, taking a mental note of the nicer homes and speeding up a bit past the not so nice looking home; ones with overgrown lawns and faded/cracked mailboxes and a for sale sign out front. Would something like this hold an importance to a potential buyer? Absolutely! It’s called curb appeal, and it’s a crucial part in a buyer’s decision to purchase or not. Here are a few tips to make sure your curb appeal is far from appalling.
- DO make sure you keep your lawn neat and clean! An unkempt lawn is an indication of laziness in how the home looks, so it can leave potential buyers wondering how bad the inside might look compared to the tall grass outside. This includes trimming any hedges that may grow alongside the home/property.
- DON’T crowd your front yard area. This includes any lawn ornaments that could obstruct the view of the front door (or just look plain tacky) and flower assortment, specifically annuals. If you desire a floral presentation in the front yard, consider planting perennials as they last much longer and add color and beauty to the yard.
- DO shine some light on the situation! If you have a driveway or partial sidewalk leading up to the front door, a few small solar lights to stake in the floor will help light the way when walking from vehicles to the front door in the evening.
- DON’T make your front door a mystery. Your front door should stand out and be obvious that is the main entry way into the home. The entrance in the home should be a warming invitation and not a guessing game between a side or back door to the home.
- DO keep an up to date mailbox. Or at least a sturdy, clean one. A broken, bent, warp or paint chipped mailbox is another indication of laziness in the upkeep of the exterior of the home. Upgrade the mailbox to one that’s weather resistant, and closes securely.
- DON’T go too “out there” with the paint job. Everyone always remembers the random brightly colored house in the middle of a neutrally painted neighborhood, but it’s not always a potential buyer’s cup of tea. It provides a shock effect anddefinitely grabs the attention of lookers, but it is rare you will find someone in the market for a bright pink home. Stay within the pattern of the neighbors, neutral colors are safest – grays and beiges being most popular.
- DO take the extra step and power/pressure wash the driveway/surrounding sidewalk and possibly the exterior of the home (professional help may be required with that last part). It will show the home is well taken care of and that the curb appeal extends all the way to, well, the curb itself!
