FACTS ABOUT CURB APPEAL
Curb appeal matters. And that’s not just an opinion. Here are some cool,
hard facts about the major difference good curb appeal can make for your
home sale.
People form an opinion within 1/10th of a second of seeing someone or
something.
99% of NAR members believe that curb appeal is important
97% of potential buyers think that curb appeal is important
94% of realtors will recommend improving curb appeal before listing a
home for sale
A well-landscaped home can add between 5% and 12% more value to a
home price.
Cleaning the outside of a home can add as much as $15,000 to the sale
price in some states.
5 HIGHEST-IMPACT CURB APPEAL CHANGES
Knowing what’s at stake, you should definitely plan to make curb appeal
improvements a priority as you list your home for sale. Here are the five
most impactful changes you can make:
Trim trees: get them professionally clipped and groomed.
Plant grass or sod: a bright green lawn makes a huge difference and adds
value to a home.
Add color: this can be in the form of flowers, shutters or even furniture with
bright pillows.
Take care of the roof: your roof may need to be cleaned. Even without
knowing it, a dirty roof draws the eye and makes a home look bad.
Touch up paint or pressure watch: even a quick pressure wash can make
paint look new again.
LOWEST COST CURB APPEAL INVESTMENTS
On a budget? Many people can’t or don’t want to make huge investments in
a home they are selling. That’s understandable. You don’t have to shell out
big bucks to improve curb appeal. Many of the changes you can make are
affordable.
Here are your best, low-cost options for improving curb appeal:
- Power wash everything (home, driveway, sidewalk, mailbox)
- Update window shutters
- Create a front yard seating area or a small garden
- Add landscaping around the mailbox
- Weed and clean up all landscaping
- Update light fixtures (could paint or just change out the bulbs)
- Add lighting to a walkway
- Trim trees and bushes
- Add a flag or garden ornaments
- Paint the front door
- Add new house numbers
- Store trash and recycling bins out of sight
- Add a border to your driveway
- Don’t park cars in the driveway
- Pick up clutter
- Fix fences
CAPTURING CURB APPEAL IN PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
87% of home buyers rely on photos when hunting for a home. What the
outside looks like doesn’t just matter for a drive-by. Many buyers want to see video tours and tons of pictures before they’ll even schedule a showing.
Investing in professional photos or videos could encourage traffic to your
online listing. Whether you get a pro or not, outdoor photos should be part
of your listing.
Here’s a list of the photos to take:
- Front view of the home from across the street
- Front view of the home from up close
- View of the front door
- View of any front yard outdoor living spaces
- View of any outdoor living spaces
- Side view of the home (from both sides)
- Backyard view from the back door
- Backyard view facing the back door
Curb appeal is all about stepping up your game so that you can get a good price for your home. When you go to sell, making strategic investments in this could make all of the difference. Consult with a real estate professional to get expert ideas on how to fix up your outside spaces!
Ready to sell? Contact me to get started!