Updated Aug 8, 2022
When selling a home, curb appeal is crucial to attracting potential buyers. Consider you’re a homebuyer stuck between two properties. The first is a beautiful home with sparkling white siding, freshly trimmed bushes and an edged sidewalk leading to an impressive front door. The second is a home with great potential, requiring work to mow the overgrown grass and replace the occasional missing shingle.
Which home would you choose? Most likely, the move-in ready first home with great curb appeal — even if the cost is slightly higher than the second. As a seller, you can add value to your home by following these surprisingly simple techniques.
Curb appeal and home value go hand-in-hand. Investing mo
Which home would you choose? Most likely, you’d want to go with the move-in-ready first home with great curb appeal — even if its cost is slightly higher than the second. As a seller, you can add value to your home by following these surprisingly simple techniques.
Curb appeal and home value go hand-in-hand. Investing money into your property’s outward appearance by repaving the driveway or replacing aged brick can increase your home’s value. A 2020 study by researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington and the University of Alabama analyzed the effect of curb appeal on home value. The researchers used Google Street View to analyze how houses with beautiful curb appeal sold compared to other properties.
Using the Google Street View and sales data from nearly 90,000 properties, the team found that homes with excellent curb value sold for 7% more than similar homes with poor curb appeal in the same neighborhood. In a slower market, that average rises to an impressive 14% difference.
Increasing your home’s curb appeal starts by analyzing your home’s current state. Take a walk around the exterior of your home and take stock of its appearance. Do you see anything that needs fixing or sprucing up? Create a list and reference it as you develop a game plan.
Investing into your property’s outward appearance by repaving the driveway or replacing aged brick can increase your home’s value by up to 7%. This number rises to 14% in weaker markets, so be sure to develop a strategic plan if you intend to list your home.
Take a walk around the exterior of your home and take stock of its appearance. Do you see anything that needs fixing or sprucing up? Create a list and reference it when developing a game plan.
Depending on your home and neighborhood’s aesthetics, there are many ways to add curb appeal when selling a home. Consider this list of professional and DIY projects to increase your home’s value:
You should choose a color that best represents the style of the house and neighborhood when painting. Some examples of color palettes homeowners and designers have used to upgrade their homes include:
If your home’s paint is in good condition, consider updating smaller features, like the trim of windows, shutters or doors. You may want to add a pop of color with a ruby red door or choose a contrasting shutter color to frame the windows. These small changes can attract attention to your favorite aspects of your home’s exterior.
The front door is the focal point of your home. Aside from freshening up the paint, think about adding these upgrades to highlight this critical feature:
Landscaping for curb appeal can be extremely easy, as even the smallest changes can make a huge impact. Some ways to improve your landscape is by:
If you intend to list your house on the market, be careful not to go overboard on your landscaping. Potential buyers may think too much landscaping will require a lot of maintenance, which is a feeling you’re trying to avoid.
Add a visual boundary to your property by investing in a fence. By doing this, you are showing potential buyers you care about your home and value privacy. Additionally, some homebuyers have pets or small children, and a fence is on the top of their must-have list.
Fences come in a variety of shapes, heights and materials. Choose a fence type that works well with your home and your neighborhood. Also, consider adding a fence to accent your home’s landscape. For example, if you value privacy, you should consider a taller fence lined with trees and shrubs.
Add a visual boundary to your property by investing in a fence. By doing this, you show potential buyers you care about your home and value privacy. Additionally, some homebuyers have pets or small children and a fence is on the top of their must-have list.
Fences come in a variety of shapes, heights and materials. Choose a fence type that works well with your home and your neighborhood. For example, if you value privacy, you should consider a taller fence lined with trees and shrubs. Adding a fence can also help accent your home’s landscape.
Your driveway and garage door are some of the first things visitors and potential buyers notice when entering the property. With the proper care, your home’s driveway increases curb appeal. If your driveway needs some TLC, consider the investment of repaving the area. If it only needs a bit of quick sprucing, frame your driveway with the landscaping techniques mentioned earlier.
Like front doors, garage doors are a focal point to your home’s exterior. There are a variety of garage door styles to improve curb appeal, like modern, carriage house and classic. Choose a garage door style to match your home’s aesthetic.
The exterior of your home will naturally accumulate wear when exposed to the elements. By cleaning built-up grime from brick or siding, you can help maintain your home’s curb appeal. Routine care can also prevent damage or fading, especially in brick.
Cleaning most types of siding is easy when using a pressure washer. You may need to test a power washer first before using it on brick. If you notice the bricks are starting to crack, the gentler method of handwashing is recommended to prevent further wear.
The gutters and roof are crucial to your home’s foundation, protecting it from water damage, conserving heat and increasing curb appeal. Clean your gutters of any buildup and replace any loose shingles on the roof. If you find any structural concerns during your walkthrough, you may want to consider replacing the gutters or roof altogether.
The investment of replacing worn gutters or roofing is necessary, and an appraiser will agree if a problem presents itself during your inspection. Luckily, there are many companies that specialize in gutter and roof replacement to make the process easier.
Brighten and warm your home’s exterior and improve safety by adding lighting to:
When choosing your lighting, pick bulbs that are bright enough for the outside, or consider the eco-friendly solar lighting option.
You don’t need to be ready to sell your house to improve your home’s curb appeal. By caring and maintaining curb appeal for your home now, you can increase your home value over time, making it easier to sell in the future. Your hard work may even create a line of prospective buyers ready to grab your home off the market if the time comes.
If you don’t have the time or means to undergo the above renovations, there are still many inexpensive ways to update your curb appeal. Check out these five ways you can add curb appeal to your home without sacrificing your weekend — or your wallet:
Adding window boxes is a much more doable project than planting an entire garden and can yield similar results. A window box can add colors to your home, and one on either side can also add symmetry. Match the material of your window box to the style of your home, from white lattice designs to a more traditional iron box.
Window boxes are also very low-maintenance — after you take a few hours to plant them, all you have to do is remember to water the flowers.
You can also increase your home’s curb appeal by pressure washing your driveway, walkways or sidewalks. Ridding the walkways of dirt and grime makes your home look extra clean and polished. It freshens up the entire look of your home with minimal effort.
Most potential homebuyers want a home with clearly visible address numbers. Consider purchasing new ones if your home numbers look worn out or are challenging to locate. You can be creative with your home numbers and make a DIY display or shop for a more stylish brass or copper option.
One part of your home that might have fallen by the wayside is your mailbox. If your mailbox looks old or worn, replacing it can upgrade the aesthetic of your home, improving your curb appeal.
Before you spend the day purchasing and installing a new mailbox, be sure to review the USPS guidelines. Once you have it installed, take it to the next level by planting flowers around it.
Planting trees on your property can make your home more comfortable and welcoming. They can also improve air quality and give your property shade, which is a plus for many prospective homebuyers and a great way to reduce your utility bill. New trees require some maintenance, but after the first year, you’ll be able to bask in their shade without worrying about a watering schedule.
David Pope Insurance Services, LLC, goes beyond home insurance. A trusted family-owned insurance firm, we understand the value of peace of mind against perils like theft, fire, wind damage and more — especially when planning to sell your home.
Our agents practice a deep-rooted commitment to quality customer service. We finish quotes and answer your questions within the same day, in addition to helping you keep costs low with home insurance customized to your needs.
If you’re a home buyer, homeowner, renter or anything in between, let us find the best home insurance for you. Contact David Pope Insurance for your fast and free quote today, or click “Subscribe” on our Contact page to sign up for our newsletter!