Even in our currently super hot sellers market, you still need to give proper attention to all aspects of your home’s appearance in order to maximize your profits when it comes time to sell. Home staging is always important, but it is key to remember that staging doesn’t stop at your home’s interior. If you’ll be putting your house on the market soon, don’t forget about the small tweaks and improvements you can make to your home’s exterior and your front and back yards to maximize your home’s curb appeal. Failing to give proper attention to the outside of your home can cause you to leave money on the table that could otherwise pad your profits. Many buyers even point to an impressive backyard or deck as their main reason for pursuing and purchasing a particular home. Here are some tips for making your home shine as much on the outside as on the inside.
Clean It Up
You need to apply the same philosophy to the outdoor spaces around your home as you do to the indoor areas, when it comes to cleaning and decluttering. If you have a storage shed in your yard, or bins located on your patio or porch, these should be emptied of their contents so that you can decide what to pack, what to throw away, and what could be donated or recycled. Since any sheds or outbuildings will likely be staying with the home when you move, you should expect that potential buyers will look inside as they are planning out their own future storage situation. The items that remain in storage after decluttering should be organized and thoughtfully placed, so that those viewing your home do not simply see a junk bin or tangled mess of garden hoses and children’s outdoor toys.
Once you have downsized outdoor items and organized your storage areas, make sure that everything is clean and appears well maintained. This includes pressure washing all of your home’s exterior surfaces, such as the siding, concrete, fences, and decks. You may want to consider having this done professionally, especially if you have a lot of ground to cover or if you are not experienced at pressure washing. For some surfaces, too strong a water stream can cause damage, particularly on vinyl and paint.
Next take a close look at your patio furniture, whether on your front porch, on a back deck or around a pool. It is better to have no such furniture at all than display something that is worn and tattered. If more than a quick cleaning is needed, either replace or remove any old or worn out pieces. However, if your seating simply looks a little weathered, you might be able to spruce things up by recovering the cushions and/or adding a few brightly colored throw pillows. If you’ve instead decided that tossing older items is the best option, and yet you don’t want to purchase a new set until after you move, you can always fill any obviously empty spaces with a few decorative planters filled with small shrubs or flowers.
Dress Up Your Doorstep
What’s the first thing people see as they approach your home? It’s likely the front door, and the area directly surrounding it. The feeling a prospective buyer gets as they walk up to the entrance of your house can affect how they view and perceive what they encounter once they open the door. Luckily you can make your home instantly more welcoming with a few additions to this area.
The easiest way to dress up your front door is by adding a seasonally appropriate wreath and a new doormat to increase your entryway charm. Go for something classic and simple where both of these items are concerned. Your wreath should be in keeping with the current season, but not overly tied to a particular holiday (that your prospective buyers may or may not celebrate). The doormat should be attractive yet functional, and bypass anything with a cutesy saying.
Plants are also a great way to liven up the area around your front door. The best way to bring some greenery into the picture is to frame your front door with a matching set of potted plants. We recommend either a colorful flowering variety or a well maintained topiary. Alternatively, you can create a botanical vignette with plants of various heights in a corner of your front porch or entryway.
Declutter Your Yard
Believe it or not, the practice of decluttering can even be brought to the grass and shrubs you have growing in your yard. During seasons of growth, the lawns of houses that are on the market should be mowed weekly, including edging. During the long winter this isn’t as much of an issue, but now that we are heading into spring, you’ll likely see your grass growing much faster than it has been, and you will need to make sure you stay on top of maintenance.
Once your grass is taken care, you can turn your attention to the other greenery in your yard. Bushes and flowerbeds should be pruned and weeded weekly so that they do not begin to look unkempt or messy. And all areas should should be watered regularly, especially once the late spring temperatures start to rise. Setting your sprinkler system to do a quick dousing early in the morning is ideal, so that walkways are not still wet and slippery when buyers come to view your home.
When it comes to your home’s exterior lawn elements, these big jobs are important, but don’t forget about the smaller details located around the outside of your home. Make sure all kids bikes, scooters and other outdoor toys are stored out of view, or lined up neatly inside the garage. Trash cans and recycling bins should be tucked discreetly away, preferably so that they are not visible to buyers. You’ll want to keep your garden hose handy and accessible for watering, but when it is not in use the hose should be coiled neatly and if possible, stored in a hose bin or in your garage.
Give Your Exterior Some New Bling
Even small changes can make a big difference is the look and feel of your home’s exterior. Likewise, small items that have become worn or discolored will stick out like a sore thumb to buyers who are seeing that other aspects of your home are in tip top shape. Check the lighting fixtures, house number, door knobs and knockers that make up your front entryway to see if they could benefit from a shiny new upgrade. Small changes make the front of your home stand out and will let prospective buyers know that your house has been well-taken care of, down to even the most minor of details. The most important thing to remember is to make sure that any hardware you replace is the same material/color so that you do not create a clashing view.
Another way to add some instant excitement to the exterior of your home is with an upgrade to your lighting. If you have a small yard or patio area, a string or two of bistro lights can be a great addition, and will help your prospective buyers imagine how nighttime entertaining will look in the space. You can also install spotlights to illuminate garden beds and other decorative features. Even though most people will be viewing your home during the day, it is important to help them picture what the home will look like at night. And keep in mind that many buyers do evening drivebys so that they can see the house they are looking at in all atmospheres.
Consider Relocating Your Car
If you have the option of another place to park your vehicles while your house is on the market, leave them out of the driveway and garage. Cars parked in a driveway obstruct the view of a house and make it appear smaller. The same is true in your garage – having a car or two taking up space could leave buyers unable to picture their own cars and stored items, and may make them question if your garage is large enough for their needs. Politely ask your neighbors if you can use their driveway temporarily, or if you live close enough to your neighborhood’s common areas, inquire if leaving cars there is an option. This is a very common trick suggested by real estate agents, so it is likely that the request has been made before and can usually be accommodated.
If hiding your vehicle somewhere off site isn’t an option, you will need to use the same theory in dealing with your automobiles as with the rest of your home’s exterior. Make sure that any vehicles parked at your home are kept clean, with frequent trips to the local car wash or visits from a mobile detailer. While in theory we agree that the appearance of your car should not come into play when someone is evaluating the merits of your home, the fact is that any vehicles parked in your driveway or in your garage will become part of your home’s curb appeal, so appearances matter.