5 Easy Steps to Create Curb Appeal When Selling Your Home

We all see it. That one house on the street that looks amazing. Your neighbor’s yard is always cut, while the edges are trimmed. It is as if every blade of grass and flower petal is just blazing in colorful glory.

And then there’s the rest of us. The house where the yard is a little overdue for mow. Edging? Sure, we’ll get to that at least twice this season. Awesome colors? Well, the kid’s toys add some real color to the side of the house…no?

Okay, okay. So you’re asking the question – why would I put all that time and effort (and some money of course) into making my yard come alive when I’m planning to get out? Well, for starters, that’s the wrong way to look at it. You need to draw in buyers. A yard that looks like it is just passing time until it is sold, will sell for less. No question about it. Good realtors know their market. A house that isn’t cared for on the outside will raise questions about the inside.

5 Easy Steps to Create Curb Appeal

The point is, both the inside and the outside of a home need to convey one thing – confidence. Buyers want to fall in love and feel good about the home. And that can fall apart immediately if they drive by (and every Buyer does) before the showing appointment and see a poorly maintained yard.

Now, don’t think you have to go out and landscape everything. It’s better to leave a blank canvas than a messy one. So, if you’re not ready to do the following 5 Easy Steps to Create Curb Appeal – then at least mow the lawn and keep it clean and picked up.

1. Mow the lawn, pick up the leaves, trim edges and clean up the yard
2. Pull weeds out of flower or tree beds near paths and entryways or around patios and decks
3. Pull dead plants and replace them
4. Put down fresh mulch around trees and plant/flower beds
5. Power wash the driveway, deck, and patio
6. Bonus step: powerwash the house, especially the north side to remove moss/mildew growth

Primary Goal – Just Keep It Clean

Sure, there are a bunch of other things you can do as well. But goal number one should be to have a clean presentation to your home so that buyers arrive and feel like they can walk right in. Stepping around things like toys and garbage containers does not welcome the buyer in and it certainly does not help them envision their life in the home. Instead, they wonder what your life has been like and that’s the wrong focus.

Again, no need to go overboard. You need to have a clean yard that is (at least) consistent with the street in general appeal and appearance.

Have questions? Feel free to drop a line or give a call. Selling your home and don’t want to deal with any of this (or the interior stuff) – give us a call. In three easy steps, we’ll make you a fair market offer for your home.

Thanks,

g.