Preparing to Sell Your Home: How do I Improve My Home’s Curb Appeal?

You want prospective buyers to have a positive first impression of your home. That’s why curb appeal is so important. If everything in the front is well-chosen and in perfect repair—from the mailbox and house numbers to the walkway and landscaping—buyers will think, “This house is obviously well-cared for.” Below are some opportunities to help you improve your home’s curb appeal.

Front door

The front door can be a home’s focal point. Sometimes a front door can be salvaged with a fresh coat of paint, new handle and hardware. Completely replacing an entryway door with a new steel one offers among the biggest bang for the buck at resale—an average of 73 percent of the cost may be recouped.

Windows

Wash them inside and out, and remove the screens for added sparkle. Then, try dressing up the windows with flower boxes, and consider a new color for the shutters. The latest trend is to more monochromatic palettes that blend with the rest of the house.

Garage

As with the front door, garage doors can be repainted, repaired or replaced. Sellers who replace the doors with new steel ones recoup nearly 72 percent of that investment at resale.

Front porch

 “Sell” your front porch as additional square footage by staging it as you would other rooms. Invite buyers to sit on a pair of rocking chairs, Adirondacks or a porch swing. You can even add a side table for writing up the contract.

Driveway

If the driveway is covered with cracks and oil stains and you can’t afford a complete resurfacing, you can patch cracks using premixed concrete materials, or asphalt or concrete that comes in caulk-like tubes. Kitty litter can be used to remove oil stains.

Lighting

Curb appeal matters in the evening as well. Conceal portable outdoor lamps and aim them at the house or a beautiful tree. Line a pathway to the door with solar lights, which are much cheaper to install than hardwired lights, and which you can take with you when you move.

I can help you make sure your home is ready to show, from the outside in. Call me at 317.777.1805, or email me at Scott@LacySells.com.