Most homeowners are pretty clear on the importance of making the interior of their home attractive when trying to sell it. But when you’re facing the sale in a buyer’s market, when homes are selling more slowly, the details of your home’s interior and exterior become more important in attracting potential buyers. If you want to increase the number of buyers who visit your open house or request a showing, take the time to increase the curb appeal of your home.

Curb appeal refers to the curb appeal of your home, the way your potential buyer sees your home when they first drive by. Curb appeal is the potential buyer’s first introduction to your home. A charming and well-maintained house helps to attract the buyer. As always, there are key factors to consider when making decisions about the exterior improvements you want to make.

Remove the rose colored glasses

First, start looking at your home as an investor and not as an owner. Whenever you view your home through their sentimental eyes, you run the risk of overlooking the little details that can make a significant difference in whether your home sells for the asking price. To gain perspective, put yourself in the shoes of the potential buyer: Walk past the house to see what buyers see when they do the same; stand across the street to get a good look at the house in the distance; and do any of these activities at night, as many homebuyers do, too. Identify any potential flaws or detours on the exterior of your home.

update maintenance

Once you’ve gained some perspective, start the basic cleaning and go over the mundane tasks you may have neglected. Remove any children’s yard tools or toys (rakes, garden tools, kiddie pool, and bikes) and then get to work:

Mow the lawn and trim the edges and grass around the mailbox; trim tree branches and shape bushes; remove grass and weeds from driveways, sidewalks, and other walkways; pressure washing dirty vinyl siding, windows, porches, steps and decks; clean gutters and finally; Tidy, clean and organize your garage.

How is your green?

Next, add elements to make your lot more attractive. Start with the vegetation: If your lawn isn’t lush, thick, and green, make the decision to invest in materials (grass seed, fertilizer, etc.) to make your lawn more attractive, consider purchasing a lawn or hiring a lawn service. gardening. Remove dead plants or bushes and replace them with full, healthy, flourishing plants.

Even if you do have to remove some of your vegetation, don’t get rid of it all: a bare landscape isn’t very warm or welcoming, and will encourage prospective homeowners to walk past your property.

fix it

Another important element is the exterior hardware of your home. What needs to be changed or replaced? Minor changes can make a big difference: a good stain can help spruce up the deck; a porch swing and/or a sleek and stylish front porch; furniture can add charm and give your front porch a more homey feel; line your sidewalks and driveways with lighting for a more charming appearance; consider paving or repaving your driveway; replace broken window glass and consider adding shutters; replace your mailbox if it is old, dirty or out of date

The main course

Potential owners are going to be looking at more than just the property; remember to look at the house itself. If the color of your house looks old, dated and/or drab, you can start with a couple coats of paint to freshen it up. But this process, whether you do it yourself or a professional, can be a time-consuming headache; Alternatively, vinyl siding installs easily and offers a more uniform appearance. Not only will it transform the cosmetic appeal of your home, but vinyl siding is a selling point with your potential buyers – most will be pleased to learn that this virtually maintenance-free product will save energy and lower the cost of your monthly utility bills. Energy.

While paint will fade and chip, vinyl siding will withstand the impact of daily sun exposure, changing temperatures and weather. For years to come, new homeowners can simply use a hose to maintain the appearance of the home’s exterior, rather than spending time scraping and repainting or replacing rotten boards.

Fine tuning

Another highlight of the structure of your house are the windows, which must be very clean, and the same goes for the glass of the front door. Also, take a good look around the front door. It is the focal point of the front of your house, and will attract the attention of potential buyers. Could it use a new coat of paint or a new knocker? Also, upgrading the light fixtures at the front door will make the entryway more dramatic and can make the house more inviting, especially at night.

remember the little things

The last item to consider is the finishing touches. Although the goal is to present your home at its best, you want the property to look like someone lives there. You can have a bike in the front yard or leave the basketball goal in the backyard. If you have a grill, leave it outside on your deck. Make sure to err on the side of caution with these accents, don’t over do it.

Evaluating and taking action on these elements will make your home more attractive to buyers and they’ll keep coming back until you find the right one, whether the market is on your side or not.