What is curb appeal and why does it matter to a homeowner trying to sell their property?

Curb appeal in its most basic sense is the beauty of your home from a front elevation view. Basically, how does your home look while standing in the street facing the home? Curb appeal when trying to sell your home is very important. As a homeowner, pay attention to the details. Try to have your lawn cut, your flowers looking lively and colorful, your sidewalks clean of debris, etc… The house itself should be appealing as well. This includes ensuring the paint is fresh, the brick is clean, the awnings are functional, the shutters are in pristine condition, and so forth… Why does all of this matter? It is the first thing the buyer sees when they get out of the car. You are giving the buyer the impression that the interior and foundation of the property itself have been kept with the same great care as the landscape, front elevation, etc… Never miss a chance to impress a potential buyer. This includes making sure the sign in the yard is clean and upright. If you are having an open house, try to make sure your balloons are fully inflated and not “dead” looking. Pay attention to the details and you will distinguish your property amongst the competition.

A common seller mistake is personalizing their home too much for showings. You want your buyer to envision their belongings, photos, paintings, etc.. throughout the house. Try to avoid magnets, photos, etc.. all over your fridge. Go easy on family photos and very unique art pieces in bedrooms. Remember, you want your buyer to envision themselves in the home, not you the seller. One way to do this is by eliminating clutter. While you may love that old couch upstairs in the loft, your buyer will not. By removing it, you are opening up the room and allowing the buyer to envision a game room or study area, etc… It’s all about the buyer being able to see themselves in your home. Another example is your master bathroom, keep toothbrushes, personalized towels, etc.. away from the eye’s viewpoint. Clear counter space of any personal items and store them away during showings.

Much is made of staging and interior decorating for home showings. However, lets not forget that the very first thing your buyer will see is your exterior elevation when approaching your home. This is a combination of the home itself and landscaping. Your exterior should be kept clear of trash, weeds, receptacles, etc.. don’t leave cars parked out front, etc.. You never know when a drive by will see your sign out front, thus, when the home is on the market, the exterior should always be well manicured. (not just the day you take your front elevation picture)

Yards that are not well taken care of will almost immediately notify the potential buyer that the rest of the home hasn’t been cared for. You want to display a sense of pride in the property. When the buyer drives up to you property, you want that “wow” factor created by your front elevation.

Below is a quick list of items noted by buyers that I have worked with in the past. I have tried to include those items that are not obvious and instead focus on topics that sellers may tend to glance over.

1) Your front door is always going to be one of the first things your buyer sees when approaching the house. The door doesn’t have to be upgraded, but it does need to be clean and free of cracking. Your door handle should be functional and tightly secured to the door. Ensure all keys work smoothly with the locks.

2) Scents: If you walk into your home and immediately get blindsided by a smell, this is not a good thing. If you wish to use lightly scented candles or something similar, fantastic. However, don’t over do this. Most importantly, ensure your home is free of animal related smells. If this is an issue with your home, use an enzyme killer prior to listing your home. Animal related smells will have your buyer thinking the property is littered with bacteria.

3) Do not clutter your entrance. Remove large furniture, toys, etc.. from your entrance/walkway. You want this to be bright and open.

4) Don’t be sloppy with your touch up paint. Make your lines crisp but also make sure your paint color is identical. Paint splotching is a large turn off and is obvious. When your paint dries, look at the paint from various angles to ensure your color patterns are clean and identical.

5) Even if you are giving your buyer a carpet allowance, make sure your carpets are clean and free of stains. Worn out older carpet is one thing, however, don’t have enormous stains throughout the carpet. Again, no home is perfect, however, you still want to convey a sense of cleanliness.

6) Your front and back lawns should be well manicured at all times.