Improving the Curb Appeal of Your Home

Simple home selling advice

Did you know that a large majority of home buyers base their decision to purchase, to even look at, a house based on what they see when they drive by? In order to increase the chances of selling your home by attracting viewers to the inside, the most important thing is to attract them to the outside by improving the curb appeal of your home

The curb appeal challenge

As tough as it may be to do so, you've got to start thinking of your home as a commodity, and no longer as a home. It's a property worth value that you're trying to sell, and if you continue to see it as your home, you'll continue to overlook its faults. Because you're accustomed to the way it looks, you've learned to accept the minor things in need of repair, but have forgotten the way it looks to someone who's not accustomed to seeing it every day.

The next time you come home, try the following test. Park across the street, or even down the street to get a good view of your home and its surroundings. Ask yourself the following questions:

What are the best exterior features of the house, and how can I accentuate them?

What are the most noticeable faults, and how can I improve or repair them?

In general, what is my first impression of the house, the yard and the surrounding areas?

As you walk closer to your home, ponder these questions as well:

As you get closer, is it still clean and tidy? Does the appearance diminish as you come upon the house?

What are the first things that pop into your mind to make it more attractive?

Once you're inside your home, make a list of the things that you saw, and prioritize them in order of both importance and cost.

Simple tips for improving your home's appearance

The easiest way to go about improving the exterior appearance of your home, thereby selling your home faster, is to tackle the quick and simple clean-up chores first, followed by the repairs and landscaping tasks later. In no particular order, here are a few tips to get you started:

Trim tree limbs that are touching the house or roof, or hanging so low that they become unattractive or obtrusive.

Stow away any gardening tools, hoses or toys that may have been left in the yard, side yard or driveway area.

Get rid of mold and mildew on the house, roof, driveway or sidewalks.

Even if you live in a wooded area, rake up leaves and branches and throw them away.

Clean all of your windows and gutters.

Mow the lawn, pull all of the weeds from your lawn and flower beds, and tidy up the flower beds by removing dead plants or planting new ones.

Pressure-wash dirty siding and decks, and even stain your deck if necessary and time-appropriate.

Remove all of the plants, weeds and grass from between bricks and concrete, and edge your sidewalks and driveway.

If you've got it in your budget to do so, and if it's necessary, consider some major landscaping, such as adding bushes and trees (or removing them). Consider paving a walk-way, adding a flower garden or a small fountain.

Consider alternate views when selling your home

Consider the fact that most prospective homebuyers are going to do everything possible to see the home in a different light. Literally. They'll probably drive by at night, drive by from every which direction to try to see the backyard, and so on. Here are just a few more ideas for making your home appealing from any angle.

With regard to the backyard: Do just what you've done to the front! Try to make it as visually appealing as possible, just like you would to your front yard.

Driving by in the evening is a common practice for home buyers, so make sure that the light they see through the windows and doors is soft and appealing.

Consider adding low voltage lighting to enhance walkways, the driveway, garden areas, trees and shrubbery.

Consider a new front door to change the look of your home completely. If this is out of your budget, try staining your old one, and replacing or polishing the hardware.

A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for any home!

Selling your home doesn't have to be an expensive endeavor, but if you really want to improve its curb appeal, you may have to invest. Just that small investment can go a long way, and in the end, the reward of selling your home quickly (and probably for a higher price!) will be worth every penny that you spend.

More information on selling your own home