How many times have you heard that if you want to sell your home quickly and get the best offer, you have to improve curb appeal?
It seems that’s all real estate experts talk about these days, even in a seller’s market like this one. Home sale prices are up 19% over the last year. They’re expected to climb nearly 15% higher over the next year.
What is curb appeal? It’s the exterior view of your home. It’s the first thing that buyers see when they drive up to it.
Does curb appeal increase home value? You should know the answer to that question before you decide to sell your home.
The good news is that you’re in the right place to learn about curb appeal. Read on and learn about the impact curb appeal has and get tips to increase home value.
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Does Curb Appeal Increase Home Value?
First impressions are everything in real estate.
Buyers determine within the first few seconds of seeing a home’s exterior if the home is right for them or not. They’ll confirm that feeling a few moments after stepping inside the home.
That first impression dictates how far they’ll go to get the home. That could lead to an offer above the asking price.
Curb appeal is all about creating that first impression. Your home’s exterior has to shine to capture the attention of buyers.
First impressions are universal. A study in the United Kingdom found that a bad first impression would give buyers a reason to offer 10% less than the asking price of the home.
Not only does curb appeal have the power to increase your home’s value, but it can also decrease it as well.
In the digital age, a homebuyer looks for homes online. Nearly all buyers find photos either helpful or very helpful in assessing a home. Keep this in mind as you look to improve curb appeal before listing your home.
How to Improve Home Curb Appeal
How do you increase home value with curb appeal? Look at your house from the perspective of someone viewing it for the first time.
Drive up to the house and look at it with fresh eyes. There might be a few flaws that catch your eye immediately.
You’ll spot things like weeds, cracks in the driveway, clutter, and paint chips. Take a few photos from the curb as well.
Photos capture the small details and flaws that your eyes might skip over. This will also help you create a lasting first impression.
Don’t forget to look up at the roof as well as what’s on the ground. There may be chipped or missing asphalt tiles.
These things seem minor, but potential buyers will notice every little detail.
Refresh the Front Door
The front door is one of the first things buyers notice. It’s what initially catches their eyes and draws them into the home.
The front door should stand out and seem welcoming. It’s also where homebuyers first step into the home.
Most of the time, all you need to do is repaint the front door. This is a simple inexpensive project.
What color should you paint the front door? Provide color contrast. If your home’s exterior is bright, a dark front door would provide contrast. The same holds true for a dark home and brightly colored door.
The contrast gives homebuyers a focal point to look at.
The curb appeal could be magnificent, but if homebuyers find the front door gets stuck, you’ve lost all that goodwill. Replace the front door with something that fits the door frame.
You can update the door’s hardware if it seems outdated or doesn’t match the style of the rest of the home.
Clean the Driveway
The driveway can be a catch-all for busy families. It’s where kids play with chalk, leave their bikes, and where you leave the recycling bins.
A driveway that has cracks and weeds will get noticed by buyers. It’s the same with a cluttered driveway.
Remove all unnecessary items from the driveway. On open house and photoshoot days, keep the driveway clear. Don’t keep cars in the driveway.
Power wash the driveway and sidewalks to give them a new look.
Clean the Home’s Exterior
While you have the power washer out, you might as well do the rest of the house. Cleaning the home’s exterior can add thousands to your home value.
It makes a huge difference because your home takes a beating from the weather. Think about those hot summer days and cold snowy nights.
Then there’s the dirt and debris that collect from wind and rainstorms. There’s probably more dirt on your home than you realize.
Power wash the exterior of the home and decks to give your home a completely refreshed look.
Landscaping
A landscaper here says that quality landscaping can improve curb appeal and increase home value. The landscaper isn’t the only one to say that.
Landscaping projects such as adding mulch, reducing weeds, and resodding can make your home look well-cared for. It goes a long way for homebuyers who want a move-in-ready home.
They trust that if the exterior looks taken care of, the interior does as well. They’re willing to pay a premium for that.
It’s why landscaping can add up to 10% more to the value of your home. Even if you need a landscaping renovation, you’re sure to see a return on investment.
More Tips to Increase Home Value
Home curb appeal goes a long way to selling your home fast for top dollar. It’s not the only factor in determining the final sales price of your home.
If you want to increase home value when you sell, take all of these factors into consideration and improve curb appeal. That gives you the best chance to sell.
The timing of the sale matters, even in this real estate market. You have to time the sale with the right economic conditions and when buyers are looking.
Take the current real estate market as a perfect example. It’s a great time to be a home seller. Home values are up all over the country.
Buyers usually look in the spring and summer months, so there are more buyers right now.
What’s driving most markets are low interest rates combined with low inventory. Interest rates increased by half a percent recently.
Buyers are starting to sit the market out because home values are high and it costs more to buy a home. More home sellers are putting their homes on the market fearing they missed a great opportunity.
Look a little closer at your local market. Are people really looking for homes right now? They might not be in the sweltering heat of Texas or Florida. Those markets tend to do better in the fall and winter months.
However, in the northeast and central areas of the country, buyers are out and about now. They’re less likely to go through the snow and ice to look for homes.
Hire a Real Estate Agent
Do you want to improve home value? Hire a real estate agent.
Home sellers like to balk at the idea because they don’t want to pay commissions. Yes, you have to pay about 6% of the sale in commissions.
Look at what a real estate agent does. They help you price, stage, and prepare the home for sale. They list the home and share the listing with their network.
They negotiate contracts and take the stress out of the sale. They use their expertise to get a higher sales price than you’d get yourself.
Staging the Home
Curb appeal is the first impression that buyers get from the outside part of the property. Staging is what closes the deal when buyers walk into the home.
Good staging lets buyers see themselves living in the home. They start to imagine how they’d use the kitchen and living areas.
The first step of good staging is to remove clutter. Pack up personal items, collectibles, and photos. Keep all areas clean and clear of clutter.
You learned earlier about the impact photos have on homebuyers. It’s worth it to get your home photographed. That’s how you’ll get the attention of buyers.
They’ll then drive up to the home, where they’ll experience curb appeal in person. They’ll walk in and know that the home is the perfect home for them.
You’ll end up with a great offer and a quick home sale.
Increase Home Value With Curb Appeal
Does curb appeal increase home value? It sure does. Bad curb appeal can decrease your home’s value, too.
If you want to maximize the value of your home, follow the tips to improve home curb appeal in this article. Make sure you pay attention to the other impacts on your home sale, too.
Once you sell your home for a lot of money, you’ll need to know how to invest the proceeds. Check out the Finance section of the site for helpful money tips.
