Tips for Instantly Improving Curb Appeal

Spring is widely regarded as the most popular time of the year to buy and sell property. Fair weather, lush green lawns, and blooming flowers all contribute to make shopping for a home appealing. Homes look their best, attracting buyers- in photos, and especially in person. Curb appeal is a measure of how good your home looks, and spring is the perfect time to maximize it. Turn your home into a gem that stands out against other homes in the neighborhood, and those also on the market.

Like a gem, your home needs to sparkle and shine. A key element of this is making sure your home is sparkling clean. While many buyers know how important it is to keep the inside of their home clean while selling, they might not realize just how much a clean appearance can improve the looks of a home’s exterior, too. You want buyers to be impressed by the first look they get at your home. Here’s how you can do it.

• Start with the Main Entrance – Entryways attract the eye and are the first spot where interested buyers will be welcomed to your property. Keep this area clean: sweep regularly and power wash if necessary, to keep this area looking its best.
• Extend Outwards – If you have a porch or patio around your entryway, you’ll want to clean it too. While you’re at it, refinish or repaint patio furniture, and add some new cushions or pillows to add color to the space. This also applies to walkways and especially driveways, which can be stained after years of use.
• Clean Windows – Bright, shiny windows will make your home pop as buyers pull up out front. Skip the ladder or calling a professional cleaner- use a power washer, or an attachment for your garden hose that allows you to reach and properly clean even out-of-reach windows. Check out these other tips that will help those windows shine!
• Landscaping – Part of cleaning means removing trash, which in the case of outside your home, can mean natural trash such as oversized plants, dead limbs, and other clutter like leaves or weeds. Trimming hedges and shrubs will give your home a manicured look.
• Put yourself in the buyer’s shoes – When you stand in front of your home, what do you see? Do you see a well maintained home with an attractive, clean appearance? Keep an eye out for areas you might have missed, and regularly check for new stains or dirt accumulation.

The dramatic difference made by cleaning your home’s exterior could be the difference between a quick sale, and your home languishing on the market. Even if you aren’t sure you’re ready to sell- it’s still a great opportunity to make sure your home looks the best that it can! Don’t let a little dirt stand in the way of your home giving a great first impression!