“You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.”
We are not sure who came up with the timeless saying, but it has special relevance for a term called curb appeal. The term curb appeal is all about making a positive first impression of the exterior of your property. Prospective buyers might not want to check out the rest of a property if it has little or no curb appeal.
Curb appeal is especially important for property owners that want to rent out a home or an apartment unit. You want to make your property stand out whenever potential renters drive or walk by it.
The property management experts at Utopia Management have mastered the art of creating attention-grabbing curb appeal. They want to share eight easy ways to enhance your property’s exterior appearance.
Join the Green Movement
One of the most effective ways to boost the curb appeal of a bland-looking property is to add shrubs, bushes, and flowers near the front of your property. You do not need to spend a lot of time or money to add fresh, colorful vegetation. You can go green by simply placing planters and window boxes along the front side of the property. Plants do a fantastic job of complementing the visual appeal of windows and entrances. If you do not have enough space to place a planter or two, consider two hanging plants that you secured near the front door.
Make Lawn Care a Priority
Once again, you do not have to spend considerable time and money to turn your lawn into something that enhances your property’s curb appeal. You do not even need a green thumb to show prospective tenants or buyers that you care about how your property looks. Simply keep the grass mowed, rake off leaves, and pull every weed you see to demonstrate the pride you take in maintaining a visually appealing home or apartment building.
Light Up the Sky
Not every potential tenant or buyer passes by your property during daylight hours. The ones that are more than intrigued about your property might pass by at night to see how everything looks under the stars. Nothing turns off a prospective tenant or buyer more than a dark entrance to your property. Clean every outdoor light fixture, as well as change out old sconces and hanging pendants with new ones. If you need a little more illumination, string a row of porch lights overhead and place lanterns up and down the walkway to make it glow.
Get Yourself Out of the Gutter
Your gutters define the perimeter to the front of your property. Twigs, leaves, branches, and artificial debris detracts from your property’s appearance. Clear out all-natural and artificial debris, and then scrub the outside of your gutters to presents an enhanced look. Clearing your gutters of debris is more than an aesthetic project; it also improves the flow of water to prevent damage to your roof. If your gutters show signs of rust and corrosion, invest the money needed to replace the old gutters with new gutters.
Power Your Way to a Clean Property
You have seen “before” and “after” photographs. A “before” photograph shows what something looked like before someone took the initiative to make it look like the “after” photograph. When you power wash the exterior of your property, make sure to take a “before” photo and compare it to the “after” photo. While you are at it, power wash the siding, walkway, and driveway.
You do not need to own a power washer. A big-box retailer such as Lowe’s or The Home Depot rent power washers by the hour at affordable rates.
Make the Front Door Stand Out
There is no reason to place a Welcome mat at the front door of your property if the front door looks less than welcoming. Painting a front door with a color that gives it some pop should not cost you more than $40 and it is one of the easiest property improvement projects to complete. Consider painting the front door with a bolder color, but make sure it blends in with the other design elements that define the exterior of your property.
It is a Numbers Game
You can easily upgrade the appearance of your property by changing out the address numbers. Select a font that matches the architectural theme of your property, but make sure the numbers present a distinctive appearance that leaves a positive first impression. Adding your numbers at the entrance to your property is also a clever idea to help prospective buyers and tenants remember your address.
Furnish the Front Entrance
Adding a couple of pieces of stylish outdoor furniture can boost the curb appeal of your property. Just make sure not to go overboard because a cluttered look is a turn-off. Buying two new outdoor chairs is all you need to do for creating a more inviting appearance for the front entrance.
You can also think about awnings. Not only are they useful for protection from weather conditions, but they are also very modern and can open up a totally new space for outdoor living.
First impressions do matter when it comes to your property. Make sure the first impressions that potential buyers and tenants have are positive ones by enhancing your property’s curb appeal.
What is Curb Appeal?
Curb appeal is the level of attractiveness that a property has when viewed from the street. Curb appeal, on the other hand, is a subjective assessment of a physical asset in its most basic form. Homes with great curb appeal, for example, are appealing to those driving by. The house looks pretty good, and all of the usual components are in place: the yard is well-kept, the paint is vibrant, the siding looks good, the roof is intact, and everything is in order.
Why Does Curb Appeal Matter?
Proper curb appeal is more than just how a house looks; it’s an ingenious marketing tool. What is curb appeal if not another way to market a property to sell it from the outside in? Curb appeal tells you what to expect. If the outside looks nice, buyers are more likely to want to see what’s inside. The first impression is important when it comes to selling a home. Improving the outside of a house may not be as exciting as figuring out what to do with the kitchen, but it is in many ways more important.
Curb appeal is an important part that creates value of a home. The reason for the importance of curb appeal is not so much how much money you put into the property. But what matters is what is done and the perceived value that can be created on that property. The truth is, you could spend a lot of money renovating everything, but ultimately, what we want to do is create something alluring, welcoming, and that will cause visitors to think highly of the house and appreciate its beauty. Because it will appeal to them.
At first glance you want your property to have “wow” factor. At the very least, it should not turn off the vast majority of buyers. The home’s curb appeal, on the other hand, should entice buyers to inquire further.
Curb Appeal Begins on the Internet
Almost 90% of homebuyers start their home search online. That being said, eye-catching photographs that highlight your home’s curb appeal are an absolute must if you want to catch the attention of potential buyers. Take several pictures of your house at the best time of day for lighting and without any extra clutter like cars, bikes, toys, and so on. You want to present your home as clean and at its best.
Curb Appeal Add Value to Your Home
Improving your home’s curb appeal will increase its value and help it sell faster. Homes are typically appraised based on the condition and features of the interior, making it difficult for financial institutions to determine exactly how much curb appeal adds to property value. However, homes with well-kept lawns and professional landscaping sell more than similar houses with exterior blemishes or unappealing front yards.
The Impact of Bad Curb Appeal
Unfortunately, poor curb appeal may deter some buyers from viewing a property that is for sale. Buyers’ first impression of a property is formed by the yard and exterior of the home. If they drive by before a showing, they might not be tempted to go inside. Buyers can also compare the home to the yards of other homes. Buyers could be reluctant to purchase a home if it is the least attractive one in the neighborhood when compared to other listings that appear better. In a competitive market, not taking care of curb appeal could be a big mistake.