You’ve heard the expression that “first impressions matter”, but do you know that most people form an overall judgment about your house within the first ninety seconds of seeing it? That means that their basic impression has been made before they ever get inside the house (and maybe before they get out of their vehicle!) This is not something that people purposefully do – it’s an automatic response. As a home seller, this means that you need to make every effort to make sure that what they see in those first ninety seconds are pleasing to the eye, so that their first impression is a good one. The good news is that this doesn’t mean you have to do anything particularly expensive or fancy, but it does mean you need to pay attention to detail, and really take a look at your home with a critical eye.
Three Important Factors In Curb Appeal
- The yard and basic landscaping is neat
- All outside parts of the home are in good repair
- The windows are clean are door is welcoming
Not everyone has a large landscaped front garden, and they don’t need to. What they do need to have is a neat, well- kept yard, that is not completely bare. Depending on season, this could vary greatly. In summer, you need to keep your grass mowed, handle weeds appropriately, and fill in bare spots in your yard. You don’t need lots of flowers, but a few pops of color in the form of flowering bushes, for spring, summer and fall, are effortless ways to give your home a lot of warmth and appeal. Rose bushes could accomplish this, forsythias, all kinds of bushes – be creative! Make sure that you also have some evergreen shrubbery next to your home, such as boxwood, to give your home some color during the winter months. It’s always a good idea to keep flowerbeds weeded out and with fresh mulch, no matter the season.
Make sure that your roof is in good repair. Most roofs are good for about 20 years (Except tin, which is good for about sixty years!) so make sure that there’s no missing or loose shingles, and be sure your windows and shutters are in good repair. Peeling paint or a missing shutter could destroy your home’s curb appeal, so handle those matters promptly. Make sure the fence (if there is one) is in good repair, and if it is metal, there are no signs of rust. Look carefully at the porch and take note of any steps that need repaired – does the wood need stained?
Dirty windows are a no-go for anyone who is trying to sell their home. They convey a basic disregard of upkeep, which no potential buyer wants to see. If you are not able to clean the windows yourself (due to safety, heights, etc.) make sure you contract with an insured company to do it. It is well worth the money spent, because gleaming clean windows are one of the first things the human eye is drawn to about a house. Be sure to take a close look at your front door – is it sturdy and in good repair? A new coat of paint or staining will freshen up the look. Consider a seasonally-appropriate wreath for your front door as well – in need not be expensive. You could make one yourself from pine boughs with a large red bow. The idea is to convey simple elegance and a home that has been lovingly cared for. Believe it or not, all this will be registered in the potential buyer’s mind within the first ninety seconds of seeing your home! Make sure you make those seconds count.
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