How and When to Boost Curb Appeal

Are you planning to sell your home in the next few weeks, or months? If so, now is the time to start thinking about your home’s curb appeal. You have probably heard a million times the importance of curb appeal in real estate. Sellers should set aside a portion of their pre-sale home prep budget to improve their home’s exterior. Buyers today rely heavily on online photos, and a house with a photo of a beautiful exterior will receive considerable buyer interest. A well-maintained exterior sets the tone for the rest of the home. So, how and when should you start working to boost your home’s curb appeal? 

Make your lawn beautiful

There’s nothing quite as attractive to buyers as a lush green lawn. If your front yard has grass, you need to pay special attention to lawn maintenance to make it full and green. It can take several weeks or more to revive a lackluster lawn by removing weeds and thatch, seeding, fertilizing, and watering deeply on a regular basis. Doing this several weeks in advance, either DIY or through your gardener, will be much more economical than installing a new lawn prior to listing your home. 

Freshen up your landscaping

Buyers love neatly trimmed bushes, hedges, and tidy flower beds. If your yard’s foliage looks dated, remove old plants and replace them with modern varieties such as boxwood and colorful seasonal flowers (again, either DIY or through a local landscaper). Add fresh mulch or bark to give the yard a finished and tidy appearance. I encourage sellers to work on landscaping early so that they too will be able to enjoy their beautiful landscaping before selling their home. 

Replace exterior lighting 

Upgrading the lighting on and around your house will instantly make it look the house look more modern and inviting. It is a relatively inexpensive fix and can be done quickly prior to listing your home for sale. 

Clean your home’s exterior, including paths and driveways

If the paths or driveways on your property have accumulated grime or stains, a good pressure wash can help make them look new again. Pressure washing can also help freshen the appearance of your home’s exterior. Exterior cleaning is an inexpensive and quick fix to improve curb appeal immediately prior to listing. 

Great curb appeal is one of the most important, but often overlooked, aspects of attracting buyers. Better curb appeal = more buyer interest = higher likelihood of receiving more offers. Whether you are planning to sell your home in the next few weeks or next several months, I can advise on how best to work with your budget and timeline to maximize your home’s curb appeal. Please feel feel to reach out. -Shirley (310) 701-3346.