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7 Quick and Easy Ways to Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal

They often say that you don’t get a second chance at making a first impression, and there are few areas where this is truer than in real estate. First impressions can make or break a sale and many buyers make up their decision before they even enter your house. But what can you do to boost your home’s curb appeal without going over budget?

Pay Special Attention to the Front Door

Since every prospective buyer who visits your house will have to go through the front door, you have to make sure it looks nice as well. As a matter of fact, a recent study by Therma Tru found that a new door could increase the perceived value of a home by more than 4%.

So, if the door seems dated, you could either consider buying a new one or refurbishing the one you already have. A nice little addition would be to add a stainless-steel kick-plate at the bottom of the door; this would be effective at hiding some imperfections and will make the door look more elegant instantly. Or, something as simple as changing the house numbers, door latch, and mailbox and replacing them with brand new ones with the same finish could give your front door a more stylish and cohesive look.

Manicure that Lawn and Pay Attention to Landscaping

Nothing spells low maintenance more than a disheveled front lawn. Your front lawn plays a huge role in the overall look of your house, so a fresh, lush, and manicured front lawn will score huge points with any prospective buyer.

If you have a lawn, make sure that you pull out any weeds, mow it, rake it, and fertilize it correctly. You could also consider laying out sod if you feel it would be a good investment.

Landscaping, in general, will be one of the first things people pay attention to when they look at your house, so try to go the extra mile with landscaping as well. It doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive, as long as it’s cohesive, creative, and well thought out.

Stick with one general theme (tropical, native) and make it look as consistent as you can for a better effect. You should also check what’s in style in your particular market. If you live in Myrtle Beach, for instance, you could check out other homes for sale in Myrtle Beach SC and see what style of landscaping people are looking for in your area.

Consider giving the Roof a Makeover

Another factor that could dramatically affect your house’s look is your roof. The roofing will capture a huge part of your buyer’s attention from the curb, so try to find roofing materials that will look as attractive as possible. If you’re going to get a new roof, however, it would be a better choice to have the previous one torn off first instead of installing your new roof over the old one. This will allow you to check for any defects and fix them before you install the new roof.

Add a Front Porch

Porches are in again and adding a new porch to your home is a great way to lure buyers in. A good quality, nicely furnished porch can add appeal to any home and can make for a beautiful family gathering space.

However, before you decide to add a new porch, make sure that you don’t DIY. Instead, call a professional. If you add a new porch yourself, it might end up looking like an add-on. Also, make sure that you check local building codes in your region for setback requirements.

Replace Your Home’s Siding

Poor, damaged, or outdated siding is another sure way to deter buyers. This is one of these details that might send out red flags hinting there could be other issues with the house. Replacing the siding doesn’t cost that much and there are plenty of affordable options out there. Vinyl siding, in particular, is very affordable and comes in a variety of colors and finishes that can complement any house.

Think about Adding Landscape Lighting

Exterior lighting is another small feature homebuyers love. And not only will it have an effect on the houses curb appeal, it will add to its security as well. In addition to adding a certain level of sophistication, exterior lighting will provide accent lighting to various landscaping elements and will illuminate your pathways as well. And if you can’t use lights that need wiring into the main circuit, you could go for solar fixtures instead.

Build an Instant Garden

Even if you didn’t spend time building a garden in your backyard, it’s not too late to do it now. To circumvent the amount of time it would take to build a real garden, you could cut corners and build a container garden in less than a day. A container garden will bring color to any back or front yard and will really make your home stand out.

Most garden centers will have ready-made containers that you can choose from with an array of plants. But you could create your own assortments using plants of your choice. Try to go for an asymmetric, staggered arrangement to make for a more dynamic setting.

Another thing you could do is add flower boxes around the house. If your house lacks color, you could add flower boxes below your windows and on your front porch railings. What’s great about flower boxes is that they’re rather inexpensive and you can easily install them on your own. Just a simple detail like this could spark up interest in your home and boost your chances of making a sale.

Conclusion

These few tips should not only allow you to get your buyers’ attention but could significantly increase the perceived value of your home. Not only that, but some of these strategies only cost a few bucks, ensuring that you get a maximum return on your investment.

James Daniels is a freelance writer, business enthusiast, a bit of a tech buff, and an overall geek. He is also an avid reader, who can while away hours reading and knowing about the latest gadgets and tech, whilst offering views and opinions on these topics.

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