For home sellers, how attractive their house appears from street view is an important component for standing out from the competition. The power of curb appeal cannot be under estimated, as that first peek at a home can encourage potential buyers to start immediately thinking about their mortgage needs versus packing up quickly and checking out the next multiple listings service property on their list.
Staging a home's exterior to make a home instantly appealing and can add as much as 10 percent to the fair market value of the home (Yahoo.com). While some sellers may wince at the amount of money and effort that may be needed to get their property up to snuff, the reality is that very little of both are needed to make a home appealing.
Clean and Coat
As the last big storm of the season becomes a memory, the dirt left behind on a house can be a stark reminder of winter's past. After the weather has passed and spring has sprung, homes will be covered with a slew of remnants from the previous year, including gutters filled to the brim with leaves and debris, filthy windows and salt residue. There is no reason to panic, as curb appeal is right around the corner.
Home sellers need to take up the time to thoroughly clean their home's exterior and eliminate any signs of wear and tear in order to entice a buyer to commit to a home loan. The process of cleaning should begin from top to bottom for the sake of efficiency. Sellers can start by cleaning out the gutters and dispose of any trash that may have collected on their lawn during the snowy season. After that, renting a power washer for approximately one hundred bucks will make blasting away any dirt a breeze. Then, conquering the task of cleaning the windows is in order.
If despite all that hard labor a home still does not look up to par, the most effective and affordable way to spruce up a property is by putting on a fresh and neutral coat of paint. A gallon of exterior home paint can cost anywhere from $25 to $100 depending on the brand and quality. Home owners who hire a professional can expect to be charged "...$1,500-$3,000 for an average single-story, three-bedroom home, but the cost can easily run $3,000-$5,500 or more for a multi-story or multi-level larger house," (CostHelper.com).
Stop and Smell The Roses
Outdoor living spaces is the must have necessity for 2011 home buyers and homes that feature outside detail comparable to the inside amenities will have a competitive edge. For homes that have such perks as patios, decks and enclosed porches, those living spaces must be clean and well kept.
Regardless of if those features are present, landscaping to make sure that the roses, bougainvillea or any existing trees are well maintained can also entice mortgage seekers to explore a property further. Flowerbeds should be cleaned of any plant remnants, lawns need to be mowed, low-hanging tree branches need to be cut down to clear the view of a home and as a safety precaution and flowering shrubs need to be pruned after blooming for both cleanliness and to provide the next home owner with more blooms in the future.
Add The Final Touches
At this point, most of the tips for improving curb appeal have revolved around taking away and removing things. Consumers with a bit more motivation can make some minor upgrades to make their home look enchanting. One such move would be replacing a front entryway door with a new option made from steel. According to Remodeling.hw.net, that change will cost approximately $1,218, but generate a return of 102.1 percent ($1,243). Color options vary greatly and include everything from wood grain, clean white, red, blue or gray.
After selecting the color for that wise change, adding coordinating components will be a breeze. Whether the light rocks surrounding succulents have gone AWOL or the mulch surrounding flowerbeds looks worn and torn from the winter weather, adding a new layer of the right material can instantly perk up a home exterior.
Although spring has sprung in many parts of the country, for individuals still struggling with Mother Nature's mood swings, planters are a great way to landscape a home. For homes that feature stairways leading to the front entrance, buying and planting color coordinating free standing containers can add a little bit of instant oomph. Containers can also be used to fill out flowerbeds that have yet to bloom.
Once the updates are complete, home sellers can compose a winning home description complete with photographs to entice buyers to check out a home. Those images are essential to a marketing strategy and those who opt to skip showing off the curb appeal of a home will be making a huge mistake with their listing.
