If you are selling your home, the exterior of your house is your first chance to impress a buyer. Buyers often know within seconds of walking up to a house if it is the right one for them. If you are wondering how to increase your curb appeal, you have come to the right place.

With the demand for homes hitting record highs in 2021, many buyers are still scouring the housing market for their next home. From painting to landscaping, we have rounded up some inexpensive updates that will make the biggest impression on buyers. Let us jump in and get your home sold quickly.

1. Re-Paint the Exterior

Painting the exterior of your home is a great way to give it a facelift without spending a lot of money. While adding stone, replacing siding, or changing the façade can be costly, paint is inexpensive, and it can really change the look of your home.

If buyers see out-of-date colors, chipping paint, or an exterior in disrepair, this could make them too nervous to make an offer. Buyers often want move-in-ready homes that do not require a lot of repairs. Give them a home with one less thing to do. 

When you are repainting your home, you want to make it as neutral as possible. A more neutral color will help your home appeal to a wider range of buyers. It will also help your home appear more updated and on-trend.

2. A New Front Door Will Boost Your Curb Appeal and the Value of Your Home

Your front door can have a big impact on your curb appeal. If your front door does not stand out or make your home more attractive, consider replacing it. A new front door also gives you a great return on your investment. We are talking nearly 500%.

If a new front door is not in your budget, a fresh coat of paint or stain can also make a big impact. Do not be afraid to give it a pop of color to help it stand out. You could also replace the hardware and update your address numbers to give it a fresh and modern new look. Choosing a front door with windows can help bring more light into your home. 

On a virtual tour, we can start at the front door, making sure even virtual home shoppers get a sense of what it is like to enter your home. Your new front door will automatically start buyers off with a welcoming feeling.  

3. Clean Up Landscaping

If you have a lot of dead plants, debris, and old plants in the front of your home, this is not doing you any favors. Unkept landscape beds will make the rest of your home look less updated. Buyers may get the impression that you have not kept up or maintained the rest of your home either.

To give your landscaping a fresh look, start by cleaning up. Once everything dead is removed, add in some fresh mulch or gravel. You can give your front yard a whole new look by replacing and refreshing the landscaping.

If you have the budget, new bushes, flowers, or ground cover can also have a dramatic effect on the front of your home. You can give your landscape beds a little facelift with some new greenery and mulch with just a quick trip to the nursery.

4. Plant Fresh Planters

Planters are another great way to boost your curb appeal. New planters can be added to the side of your front door, by your walkway, on your front porch, or even as window boxes. These pretty boxes or planters will go a long way in helping your curb appeal.

You can add fresh flowers, ferns, or seasonal décor to your planter boxes. These will give buyers something pretty to look at when they walk through your front door. They will also help your home look well maintained and cared for.

Use planters to add some pops of color as well. Go with seasonal plants and colors to give your front door a pretty update. The color will help draw the eye to your front door as soon as you walk up.

5. Decorate for the Season

No matter what time of the year you are selling your home, adding in some seasonal touches can help spruce up your curb appeal. Think pumpkins in the fall, birch branches and evergreen over the holidays, and patriotic colors during the summer months.

These little additions will help buyers see all the fun potential your home has. They can imagine themselves decorating for each season and making memories. You can add some festive touches without spending a lot of money.

Update your welcome mat, for example. A dirty old welcome mat does not give buyers those warm and fuzzy feelings. Add a wreath to your front door and put seasonal touches in your window or planter boxes.

Put little pumpkins or mums in your planters during the fall. Add bright and colorful flowers in the summer or use wintery greens to give your home a cozy winter atmosphere. Bring these cute accents into your foyer and entryway as well. This will help set the tone and give buyers a great feeling as soon as they step through the front door.

6. Update Your Garage Door

If your garage door needs a little tender love and care, now is a great time to repair or replace it. A new garage door also gives you a great return on your investment. This is one update that actually boosts the value of your home.

A new garage door can completely transform the look of your home. You can create a beautiful new look that will impress buyers. It will also help make the rest of your home look more updated.

Not only does a new garage door look great but it also makes your garage more functional. If a buyer comes to look at your home and the garage door does not work, this may leave them with an unsettled feeling. Give buyers confidence that your garage is well maintained and updated.

7. Repair Home Exterior Cracks

If you have a lot of cracks in your driveway, sidewalk, porch, or front stairs, this could be hurting your curb appeal. Fixing the cracks will help make buyers more at ease. When they walk up and see broken stairs or large cracks in the sidewalk, this does not make a great first impression.

These types of repairs have buyers seeing dollar signs. The bigger repairs they see, the more they will want to deduct from their offer price. To help make sure you get the most for your home, consider making repairs to your walkway, sidewalk, or driveway.

These types of cracks or repairs can often be patched or fixed without replacing the entire structure. Even if buyers are only seeing your home using virtual tours, items that need to be repaired can still be visible. A little money spent making these small repairs will go a long way to leave buyers with a good impression.

8. Clean Your Windows

Your windows can make a bigger first impression than you may think. When potential buyers come to look at your home do not make a bad impression with dirty windows. Your windows and window frames will look old and outdated.

Have your windows professionally cleaned before you list your home. Do not forget the inside of your windows as well. This will help bring more natural light into your home. More light means a bigger and brighter space.

Buyers love to see big, bright, open spaces. With freshly cleaned windows, your home will shine both in person and on virtual tours. With our virtual tour technology, we can take potential buyers through every room in your home. We can showcase your room size, ceiling heights, windows, and more, starting from the outside in.

How to Increase Your Curb Appeal When Selling Your Home

Knowing how to increase your curb appeal can help your home sell faster and for more money. From painting to making small repairs, these tips will help you boost your home aesthetics and your sales price. If you are ready to let our expert team help you sell your home, you have come to the right place.

From virtual tours to expert real estate professionals, we have the technology and the services to help you sell your home for top dollar. Fill out the contact form here to learn more and to get in touch with one of our real estate marketing professionals.