Curb Appeal for First Time Home Sellers: What You Need to Know Before Listing Your Property

Posted by Justin Havre on Friday, July 14th, 2017 at 8:58am.

First Time Home Seller Curb Appeal"Curb appeal" is the term that refers to the attractiveness of a home as seen from the street. Curb appeal is what impresses home buyers when they show up and view a property for the first time. Curb appeal is achieved through a variety of home improvement projects as well as landscaping projects. Knowing how to boost your own home's curb appeal can help make your property more attractive to potential buyers and can also lead to bigger offers.  

Curb Appeal Can Be Achieved on a Budget

While expensive upgrades can be impressive, inexpensive DIY projects can still make a good impression on home buyers. For example:

  • Repainting the front door. Repainting the front door can be done for as little money as the price of a quart of paint. To repaint the front door, remove it from its hinges, sand and clean the surface of the door, then apply primer and paint. Put the door back in its place as soon as the paint has finished curing.  
  • Clean the siding. In most cases, the siding can be cleaned with a scrub brush and a mild detergent. In cases where the siding has been stained by mold or mildew, oxygen bleach and water can be used to remove the stains. 
  • Replace the house numbers. Small, difficult to see house numbers can make it difficult for home buyers to find your property. To fix this problem, purchase large, bold-coloured house numbers and put them in a prominent location where they will be easily seen. 

Landscaping is an Important Part of Curb Appeal

Well-planned and well-maintained landscaping is an important part of your home's curb appeal, and it can help a home perform more competitively in a hot market like Bow Meadows. To use landscaping to your advantage, follow these tips:

  • Plant colourful annuals to make your front yard appear more cheerful and inviting. Colourful annuals can dress up your front yard and attract attention to your home. Best of all, annuals tend to be easy to maintain, requiring little more than water and sunlight to thrive. 
  • Trim the shrubs. Prune the shrubs in your front yard to prevent them from covering your home's windows. Pruning the shrubs also promotes healthy, bushy growth, making your landscape look more healthy and attractive. 
  • Lay down mulch in the garden beds. Mulching your garden is a good way to make the garden beds look uniform and well-tended. As an added bonus, mulch helps hold in moisture and prevents weeds from growing.  
  • Landscaping must be well-maintained throughout the selling process. Most homeowners get busy when selling their house, which can lead them to neglect their yard. Remember that grass must be mowed, the yard must be kept trim and the flowers must be watered so your home will look its best for buyers.  

Making Small Repairs Can Boost Curb Appeal

Deferred maintenance can detract from a home home's curb appeal. When trying to decide what needs to be done in order to boost curb appeal, look for issues like peeling paint on the fence, siding or garage, rusty hinges on the gate, cracks in the driveway and so on. Repairing these minor problems can help make the home ready to be seen by buyers. 

Work With Your Real Estate Agent

A good real estate agent can give you advice that can help you boost your home's curb appeal. Consult with your real estate agent before listing your home on the market. Your agent can give you tips that can help your home sell faster.

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