Your curb appeal is critically important to the sale of your house. Not only is it the first impression visiting buyers get when they arrive to tour the house, but it also features prominently in the cover photo for your online listing. With so many listings on the market, online house hunters take very little time to dismiss a listing that doesn’t grab their attention.
So what can you do to quickly and easily enhance the curb appeal of your house to appeal to a wider range of buyers for a faster sale at a higher price?
Here are five quick tips to enhance your curb appeal.
1. Clean, Clean, Clean
Nothing turns buyers off faster than dirty, dingy spaces. Even if they’re outdoors and exposed to the elements. Invest some time in giving the outdoor areas of your property a good cleaning, focusing on the front of the house.
Clear out cobwebs, power wash the walkways, wash the windows, sweep the landings, clean out the gutters, and wipe down the door and all the fixtures around the entryways. Starting with an ultra-clean base will give you a solid foundation for the rest of our quick curb appeal enhancements.
2. Add Some Welcoming Accessories
Just like we use home staging to show buyers what it could feel like to live in the home, we can stage the area around the front door to make the house more inviting.
A new welcome mat and seasonal wreath are the quickest ways to add a touch of warmth to your entry area. You could also consider upgrading lighting fixtures or adding a new door knocker for a little extra visual interest.
3. Freshen Up the Landscape
Landscaping doesn’t need to mean water-dependent grassy lawns. A drought-resistant landscape can still enchant buyers. As long as your landscaping is clean and well-maintained, there are many “correct” ways to landscape. The important thing is to give life to your curb appeal through living, thriving plants.
What if you don’t have a front lawn? Many San Francisco homes are built so close to the street, and so close to the neighbors that there is no unpaved ground area available. In that case, add some potted plants going up the stairs or a couple of topiaries to frame the front door.
4. Add a Pop of Color
Having been exposed to rain, wind, and sun, there’s a good chance that your front door could use a little facelift. And this is the perfect opportunity to add a pop of color that will help your listing stand out, particularly in the online listing photos where buyers need an immediately visible differentiator.
“We should make an appointment to see that one house closer to my office…you know, the one with the red door.”
5. Leave the Light On
If your front door is nestled in a small alcove (which is exceedingly common because it allows guests to seek shelter from any adverse weather as they wait for you to answer the door), the front door can look dreary because the light can’t reach it as well.
The solution is simple: turn the light on! Make sure the light is on for your listing photos, private showings, and open houses, even during the daytime. You may even want to consider leaving the light on while your home is on the market. Many buyers like to drive by houses on their short-list after dark because they want to get a feel for the nighttime vibe of the neighborhood. And having your light on will make your house stand out as being warmer and more inviting than the others.
How Much is Your House Worth?
If you’re considering selling your house, you deserve to get an accurate home valuation so you can project your proceeds. And you can’t get this from a website that provides estimated values. For homes that are not yet listed on the market, these websites are regularly off by more than 20 percent!
Instead, contact the listing experts at Sequoia Real Estate. We proudly offer free, no-obligation custom home valuations. We can even review your house with you to find opportunities to enhance the curb appeal of your unique home! Don’t wait; contact us today!