First impressions are everything, which is why it’s so important when selling your home to include the exterior in your plans for staging and improvements! Thankfully you don’t have to dig deep into your wallet for expensive new siding or landscaping in order to improve your home’s curb appeal. Here are a few projects you can tackle in a weekend to get potential buyers to fall in love with the property from the minute they pull up!
- Paint the door. If you want to make a big impact with a small amount of paint, an interesting color on the front door can do the work of making the entire exterior of your house look more stylish and intentional. Make sure to pick a color that complements the other colors on the face of your home. A cheerful bright can bring personality to a home, while a striking black door can communicate elegance.
- Decorate the door. Adding a nice wreath and a friendly welcome mat can go a long way in making the front of the house feel inviting. Wreaths give you a chance to bring some seasonal decorative flavor to the house, and a welcome mat has the added bonus of keeping the entryway clean during showings.
- Clean it up. You can make your siding and windows look newer by thoroughly cleaning the outside of the house. Rent a power washer to get years of grime off of siding, sidewalks, and driveways, and wipe down both sides of every window with glass cleaner to really let the light shine through. Also, any existing landscaping will look better if it’s pruned and has fresh mulch or rocks.
- Treat the porch like a room. A front porch can become a selling point for the home if you treat it just like you treat the interior rooms: Add furniture, decorate with potted plants and porch curtains, and make it an attractive and functional space.
- Upgrade the details. Any small detail that you can inexpensively replace will help contribute to an overall sense of quality. Shiny new metal house numbers, a repainted or updated mailbox, a fresh new porch light, or some landscape lighting are all great options for small additions that you can pick up at the hardware store for relatively cheap.
- Hide anything distracting. A container for the garden hose, something to conceal the air conditioner, and a small section of fence to tuck the trash cans into will help make the whole front of the house look more put-together.
It can be difficult to get perspective on a house you’re used to seeing, so you may want to start off your DIY efforts by taking a stroll around the neighborhood, scoping out and discussing your neighbors’ curb appeal, and then returning with fresh eyes to identify your home’s strengths and areas for improvement. Then, set aside a weekend before putting your home on the market to make some quick changes. It will all pay off when visitors fall in love with your house before they even see the inside!
