32 Ways to Amplify Curb Appeal for Selling Your Home
Buyers tend to ignore houses lacking star-quality curb appeal. To catch their attention, take a note out of Hollywood’s book and make your home exude elegance and glamor.
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 92% of real estate agents advise improving curb appeal before sellers list their homes for sale, while 97% believe curb appeal is essential for attracting buyers.
Not only does beautiful curb appeal lure buyers in, but it also encourages them to offer more money for your home. HomeLight’s Top Agent Insights report found that 31% of agents believe a larger or improved outdoor space is the biggest selling point this year.
Around 58% of respondents also said outdoor improvement is the top feature or upgrade sellers can add to their home to make them more appealing in the current market.
No matter the size of your lot or the style of your house, you can create curb appeal for selling your home that will dazzle buyers and earn a worthwhile return on investment. Here are 32 tips and tricks to design a show-stopping exterior.
Start with a deep clean
Beautiful curb appeal for selling your home begins with the most basic home improvement principle: cleaning. Dirt and grime turn off buyers and can make your home appear in worse condition than it truly is. If your exterior can’t be new, at least make it shine like new.
“It’s important that sellers clean. Buyers make judgments quickly. If they see blatant neglect, they’re critical,” says Don Hammons, a top agent who works with 80% more single-family homes than the average agent in Bellingham, WA.
Clean up your curb appeal in four simple steps:
1. Rent a pressure washer to power wash the siding, windows, and gutters. Don’t forget to blast the sidewalk, porch, and deck.
2. Wash the windows inside and out. Hammons suggests removing the screens if they’re not in good condition and storing them for the new owner.
3. Got mold? There are many spray-and-forget-it products made for vinyl siding that attach to your garden hose and allow you to reach the high spots without a ladder.
4. Tidy up your yard and remove clutter, debris, and dead leaves. You don’t have to lift that barge or tote that bale — just think of it as housekeeping for the outdoors.
