(3-minute read)

‘Curb appeal’ is the reaction someone has upon seeing your house for the very first time. And, if your home’s curb appeal makes a welcoming, memorable first impression, everyone – including potential homebuyers – will want to see what’s inside. Luckily, sprucing up the outside of your house and transforming it into an envy-worthy abode is easier than you may think!

In no time at all, you can spruce up your home’s exterior and add immediate value to your overall home, increasing the price tag and making it more desirable. Yes, with some attention to detail and simple DIY solutions, improving your curb appeal will instantly brighten your residence and help you sell your home!

RE/MAX Homes and Estates, Lipman Group owner and Broker, Larry Lipman, shares his insights and tips below on how to update your home’s curb appeal.

Update Your Home’s Curb Appeal: Do Your Research

Look at curb appeal ideas on real estate sites, such as Zillow, and research tips from pros. Pay attention to details like landscaping, color, and lighting. “Take a look at what you see in new constructions, too,” Larry suggests. “Drive through newer neighborhoods with homes that are similar to yours and notice how you can apply what they have done to your own home.”

Examples of upgrades that make a big difference are upgrading the style of your front door, making sure any steps leading up to the front door are in really great condition, and adding fresh pillows to any porch furniture. Of course, potted plants should be eye-catching, bursting with life, and lush!

Speaking of flowers, window boxes are also a fast and easy way to give your home a little color and charm. Use painted wood boxes for a cottage look or go with metal for a more traditional and stately look. Just like your potted plants, fill them with lovely flowers and plants that suit your lighting conditions and color scheme. Tuck in fragrant herbs like thyme, rosemary, and mint as fillers. 

Other quick fixes include replacing old hardware, such as house numbers and wall-mounted mailboxes, or adding light fixtures to provide accent lighting to trees or to illuminate a walking path.

A good cleaning also makes an impressive impact. Be sure to consider pressure washing any hardscapes, washing window sills and frames, cleaning the window panes, and weeding your gardens. Plant fresh annuals after weeding for a punch of happy color.

Update Your Home’s Curb Appeal: Cohesion Is Key

You want your home to stand out in a good way, which means you need a plan! Try to mirror the overall aesthetic of your surroundings. “Be sure you’re not the sore thumb in your neighborhood and try to stay cohesive to the style,” Larry says. Balance and symmetry are also important when you’re in a neighborhood. Thoughtfully placed garden beds and even symmetrical, freshly-painted window shutters are small details that potential buyers will be sure to notice.

One way to blend in is to camouflage potential eyesores, such as large electrical boxes, HVAC units, and trash cans. Paint items like electrical boxes, wires, and piping the same color as your house to make them less noticeable. Another idea is to use plants to hide HVAC units. Look for evergreen types that will hide your unit all year. Other good camouflage tricks for HVAC units and trash cans include garden trellises or solid fencing.

To Update Your Home’s Curb Appeal: Turn to the Experts

Many quick-fix projects can be done in an afternoon and without professional help. Such projects include refreshing your porch furniture and adding potted plants. But when it comes to larger projects, “Don’t be afraid to hire a professional,” Larry advises. Anything that requires electrical work, fencing, or major landscaping is usually best left to the experts.

Some other projects to hire professionals for include installing new shutters or accent trim, adding arbors and fence panels, and upgrading porch and stoop railings. All of these improvements, though a little more costly and time-consuming, are an integral part of a home’s exterior aesthetic. These all help to reinforce the home’s style.

In Summary

Curb appeal can make it or break it for a potential buyer. An excellent real estate agent will know all the tricks, from repainting the door to planting colorful annuals, replacing the mailbox, to updating porch furniture. Before listing your home for sale, work with your real estate agent to improve the appearance of your home.

Renovations, ranging from large projects to simple upgrades, can grow your home’s value by thousands of dollars to tens of thousands, to more, depending on your home. Focusing on the right areas of your home to renovate before selling is vital to ensuring you receive top dollar for your house. 

Ready to put your home on the market? We’d love to hear from you. You can contact us here or call us at (615) 463-3333. We look forward to speaking with you!

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