Believe it or not, the first thing a potential buyer looks at in a house is the outside. If they don’t like the curb appeal of a property, more than likely, they aren’t going to consider for even one second looking on the inside (let alone buying the home.) Thus, home staging the OUTSIDE of your home is of paramount importance.
In fact, most buyers can’t or won’t visualize changes, so it’s up to the home’s owner to make these changes. Besides, real estate experts share that a staged house commands higher offers and frequently sells faster!
Ultimately, that is your goal.
Furthermore, if a prospective home buyer does want to make changes, then they sometimes want you to lower the price of the home to compensate for the changes made to the house. This buyer’s strategy means that you take away a smaller check from the closing table!
Here’s the long and short of this story. Today, buyers expect a new house to be move-in-ready. An enormous number of home buyers will reject anything less than perfection.
Fortunately, there are several things property owners may do to add curb appeal to the home. We’ve created a checklist of actionable home staging techniques you should apply to the exterior of your home. Some will also call this “curb appeal.” But the truth is, the terms are one and the same!
The Honey Do List for Adding Curb Appeal
Do not list your home until you do these things!
Home Staging: The front of your exterior
- Install a brand new front door, something with an attractive glass inset that allows light to flood in during the day.
- Put a fresh paint coat on the home.
- In case the garage faces the road, replace the old door, or apply a fresh paint coat to it.
- Add low voltage lights down the driveway and sidewalks to show off the property to those who drive by in the evening.
- Install an attractive porch light. Conversely, you can remove your existing porch light, remove the globe, give it a fresh coating of spray paint and reinstall it. Either way, you have a bright look!
- Clean all cobwebs out of door jambs, window frames, fixtures, etc.
- Strategically place exterior lighting in flower beds and under windows to show off the home’s best features.
- Consider the condition of your doormat. If it looks frayed or worn, invest in a new one! This is an often-overlooked detail!
Patio lighting allows home buyers to see your property’s great potential, even at night.
Home staging tips for the lawn:
- A groomed lawn is significant to curb appeal. Potential buyers won’t want a home with an unattended garden. So keep yours in pristine condition at all times once you’ve listed the house.
- Another note about the yard. The lawns should be well attended without the brown or bare spots.
- In the yard, rake up and remove fallen leaves–they cause a slip hazard for homebuyers who will walk the yard. Plus, they look ugly.
- Repair any damage pets may have caused in the yard, particularly if they love to dig holes.
- Plant flowers in the flower beds throughout the yard, and be sure to include some with colorful blooms appropriate for your climate conditions
- Make sure all fallen limbs are cleaned up.
- Every time you use them, be sure to put all water hoses, toys, and lawn furniture away.
- It’s also essential to keep hedges shaped neatly.
- Do not let limbs hang too low to the ground or scratch on the roof of the house or any outbuildings.
Whew, That was a lot. Stay tuned, we are not done yet! There are other essential things to look at when adding curb appeal to your home.
The importance of your driveway:
- Ensure that the driveway doesn’t have cracks or oil stains. Soak up excess with sawdust or cat litter, and brush it into the trash before you scrub it.
- Pressure wash your siding, driveway, and sidewalks, so they look brand spanking new.
- Driveways should be clutter-free. This point means you should have no toys, bicycles, or excessive cars parked there!
- Holes or dips in the driveway should be repaired. Another way to add curb appeal and value to your home is to add concrete landscape curbing. Essentially, all you are doing is adding some concrete edges along your curb or around the flowerbeds to define the space.
A clean, bright driveway invites shoppers to stop and tour your house.
Home staging around the entire home exterior:
- Decorate for the season, add wreaths, accessories, benches, garden flags or decor for whatever the season is, and spice it up. This adds visual interest and shows that you care.
- Mulch the flower beds to make plants and flowers pop.
- Welcome visitors with container gardens of annuals in vibrant shades that will put buyers in a cheerful mood.
- Wash all the windows thoroughly. This cleaning makes the home far more attractive for zero dollars. All you will invest is your time and energy! In addition to ramping up curb appeal, you’ll also brighten up the interior by allowing the sunlight to flow in freely minus the grime.
Clean windows make an appealing statement.
The Bottom Line on Home Staging the Exterior
Don’t underestimate the value of curb appeal. While many homeowners gladly spend the time and budget staging the home on the interior, they often neglect the home exterior. That is a mistake!
Home shoppers want to invest in well-maintained homes. They want to move in their belongings, kick off their shoes, and enjoy. If your property looks as if there is a laundry list of to-dos waiting for them, they will pass you up.
Therefore, it might be even more important to focus your energy on home staging your exterior to draw in those shoppers in the first place! You’ve got this! You are ready to sell!