March 31, 2023

8 Ways to Add Curb Appeal to Your Home

https://youtu.be/XXjEwnpW2bE

From first dates to job interviews, first impressions matter. When it comes to selling your home, that initial glimpse of its exterior, aka curb appeal, is a big deal. In fact, according to a 2020 study done by the University of Texas at Arlington and published in The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, curb appeal can contribute to up to 7 percent of the home’s selling price (and even as much as 14 percent in certain real estate markets). That’s why it’s important to put your home’s best face forward.
What does curb appeal mean?
8 ways to boost curb appeal
1. Painting the house

2. Cleaning windows
3. Repainting doors
4. Refreshing landscaping
5. Power washing the driveway
6. Hitting the lights
7. Fixing the roof
8. Upgrading the mailbox

Curb appeal is the way your home looks from the outside or from the street, and makes it attractive to someone who visits or drives past. Your home’s curb appeal can be assessed by, looking at the front of your home and taking it in from the perspective of someone seeing it for the first time. If your house is Purple, because you love the color, it won't appeal to the general masses. The color and condition of your home’s exterior, the landscaping, and the overall maintenance of the outside of the property all contribute to its curb appeal. If you have overgrown weeds and wood rotting on the facia, you probably need to do a little maintenance.

Improving your home’s exterior and environs before listing it for sale is important. Curb appeal is the most important and effective tool in selling a home. If people love the look of your home from the outside, they’re more likely to feel open and enthusiastic as they tour the interior. If your home looks like it's been ignored, that will give a bad first impression.

Tips on how to improve curb appeal, bring in the buyers, and get top dollar for your home:

Painting the house

If your home’s exterior is looking dingy, it can be less appealing to potential buyers. One of the best ways to refresh it is with a new coat of paint. Minor repairs and a full exterior paint job can go a long way, especially if the paint has faded or is chipping. Painting today, especially in Silicon Valley is one of the more costly things to do when preparing a home for sale, it can make all the difference if the home is overdue for a fresh paint coat.

Warm and earthy neutrals are said to be the hottest trend. Organic shades that mimic colors in the environment will compliment your lawn tastefully and highlight all of the different factors boosting your curb appeal. Grey's aren't what people want these days, they want to see a little more neutral, beige, and even some bold colors.

Cost: On average, expect to pay about $5-7,000 to paint the exterior of an average-sized home,

Cleaning windows

Cleaning your doors and windows gives the impression that your home has been well taken care of. If a potential buyer is put off by filthy windows, they may not want to see what sits behind them, even if the interior of your home is actually kept.

Giving your windows a good scrubbing is an easy and inexpensive way to remove any grime and give your home that sparkling look. Hint: keep the screens off until you sell. it'll keep grime away, and make the inside of your home brighter.

Cost: If you DIY, this project will cost you nothing but water, cleaning supplies, and a little elbow grease. A pro can cost upwards of $5-700

Repainting doors

Like a full exterior paint job, freshening up outside entryways with new paint can go a long way. FRONT DOOR painting your door black or charcoal gray could even contribute to a higher sale price.

Painting just the front door and the garages can help the home's curb appeal pop since it’s one of the first things potential buyers see.

Exterior acrylic latex paint costs between $20 and $50 per gallon. Your local paint shop can help you estimate how much paint you’ll need based on the size and scope of the doors in question.

If you don't want to do it yourself, give us a call, we have a list of vetted contractors and vendors we use every day.

LANDSCAPING

The traditional grass yard is not always the best route. Low-maintenance and water-saving plants are popular and help to bring nature back to balance. While yard features such as gazebos and pergolas are popular, we don't recommend going to the expense of adding them just for curb appeal. If you already have a patio or a deck, do spring for washing it, tidying it, and making sure it’s in good condition.

Cost: The average cost for a professional landscape design, new soil, grading, grass seed, plants, patio, and a walkway of a full front yard is between $5,000 and $8,000; as high as $15,000 for the whole property. If you have a rake and lawn mower, however, you can spruce things up for almost nothing.

Power washing the driveway and walkways

Leaves, rain, and dirt can dull the surface of a driveway, especially a concrete one. “If your driveway is dingy, get it power washed, If there are a lot of unsightly dings, bumps, gouges, and cracks, you might even want to spring for having it resealed

Cost: On average, the cost to pressure-wash a 600-square-foot driveway is $2-400. If you want to do it yourself, you can rent an electric pressure washer for $65 per day.

Another easy option is to add a few pre-potted plants to the walkway or porch. At a cost of no more than $100 or $200 (depending on the plants), you’ll add color and pop to the entry area and can take the plants with you after you sell.

Hitting the lights

Clean, functioning, and updated exterior lighting not only looks nice but also can be an important safety/security feature.

At the very least, inspect and refurbish what lighting you have. If any potential buyers visit around sunset or drive by at night, it can ensure your home looks well-lit.

Fixing the roof
The condition of your roof can be a sticking point for buyers. If there are broken shingles or tiles or other issues, it’s best to take care of them with the help of a professional roofer before they come up during the home inspection.

Cost: For minor repairs (such as repairing links and replacing 100 square feet of asphalt shingles), the average cost for a professional repair is $750-1000. This can vary depending on the type of roof and the extent of the repairs.

Upgrading the mailbox

It’s small but significant. The mailbox is one of the first things a prospective buyers will see when they arrive at your home.

it’s time for an upgrade if your mailbox is faded or is looking worse for wear. Even though it's a small project, but it can help improve overall curb appeal.

If you're selling, give us a call, and we will manage the whole process for you. you focus on your life, we'll focus on moving you.

Vito Scarnecchia

Realtor®, Broker, Veteran, Dad

DRE#: 01407676

Website: abitano.com

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