When it comes to your home, first impressions matter—especially if you’re looking to sell. That’s why curb appeal is crucial. Curb appeal describes how attractive your home looks from the street. The condition of your landscaping, siding, paint job, and more can all affect curb appeal.
Unfortunately, some homeowners make mistakes that hurt their home’s curb appeal without even realizing it. If your goal is to improve your curb appeal before the year ends, make sure you don’t commit these common mistakes.
Not Power Washing Your Home Regularly
Your home’s siding, porch, and walkways accumulate dirt, grime, and pollen over time. And while you might not notice it on a day-to-day basis, potential buyers will definitely take notice. A quick power washing with a pressure washer will remove all the build-ups and leave your home looking clean and well-maintained.
However, many homeowners take this task for granted. They simply focus on painting the house’s exterior a new color and forget that the siding, porch, and walkways also need washing. As a result, their home’s curb appeal suffers.
What you need to do is to make sure you never forget to pressure wash your exteriors. Add it to your home maintenance checklist and schedule it at least once or twice a year. This way, you can keep your home’s curb appeal looking great all year round.
Failing To Address Minor Repairs
While some home improvement projects are definitely more noticeable than others, even minor repairs can make a big difference in curb appeal. If your front door is peeling, your gutters are hanging loose, or any other minor repair needs attention, take care of it before putting your home on the market. Any sign that the house could use some work can quickly turn off your guests and buyers.
So, if you want to improve your curb appeal, don’t forget the little things. Be sure to address any repair needs—no matter how small—before listing your home for sale.
Let’s say you don’t have time to take care of repairs before putting your home on the market. In that case, disclose any necessary repairs in your listing. This way, buyers will know exactly what they’re getting into before making an offer on your home.
Not Dressing Up Your Front Door
Your front door is one of the first things people will see when they approach your home. So, ensuring it’s in good condition and looks great is essential. Thankfully, there are many ways to give life to your front door.
For one, you can add a fresh coat of paint. This will instantly make your front door look more inviting and help it better complement the rest of your home’s exterior. You can also add some new hardware, like a new doorknob or knocker.
If your front door is old and outdated, consider replacing it. Just be sure to choose a door that fits well with the style of your home. A new front door can go a long way in boosting curb appeal.
Failure To Create a Visual Interest in Your Front Yard
Creating visual interest in your home’s exterior is one trick to making it more appealing. And there are many ways to do this. For instance, your landscaping can have different heights, textures, and colors to create interest. You can also add a water feature or some garden art.
If you have a porch or patio, be sure to stage it in an inviting and welcoming way. Add some comfortable furniture, a few throw pillows, and a potted plant or two. Don’t forget about outdoor lighting, as your home’s exterior will look much more appealing when it’s well-lit.
Another investment you can make to boost curb appeal is by allowing the experts to install paving in your home. Pavers give your home a regal look and are a great way to increase its value over time. You can add a paver stone patio, replace your concrete driveway with paving stones or even add landscaping pavers to the front yard.
If you want the best results, allow the experts to install pavers. With some research, you can find reliable experts to take care of the project. You just need to make sure you hire professionals with years of experience and a good track record. Find one that offers free estimates so you can compare their rates and services with other providers before investing.
Forgetting To Make Your Home’s Exterior Accessible
While making your home’s exterior more visually appealing is important, you must also ensure it’s accessible. This means ensuring there is a clear path to your front door and that all entryways are easily visible from the street.
You might need to trim back some bushes or trees obstructing the views of your home. You may also need to add some lighting to make it easier for people to see your home at night.
Making your home’s exterior accessible is vital for two reasons. First, it will make it more inviting to potential buyers. Second, it will help ensure that emergency personnel can easily find your home in the event of an emergency.
Improving your home‘s curb appeal is a great way to increase its value. But there are many mistakes homeowners make when trying to boost curb appeal. Be sure to avoid these common mistakes if you want to get the best results.
