Curb appeal is a crucial concept for any homeowner, especially if you’re planning to put that house on the market at any time in the near future. Curb appeal gives potential buyers their first look at a property, and that first impression is unparalleled. The aesthetic outer state of the home can be what urges a buyer to consider a property more seriously.
So, it’s clearly important to maintain your home’s curb appeal. But how do you manage to do so in practice?
1. Know when to make big changes.
A lot goes into home maintenance, even when only considering exterior and aesthetic projects. In some cases, you can get away with small-scale projects, like patching a hole, fixing a shingle, or stopping a leak. In other cases, though, it’s a good idea to take on a larger project instead.
For example, a small, contained leak in a metal roof that’s otherwise in good condition may be repaired by just a small project or a short visit from your contractor. However, if the problem is more severe, you’d be better off scheduling a full roof replacement. That way, you won’t have to deal with an even larger crisis down the road, and you won’t run the risk of that happening on the very day a potential buyer drives by. Investing in a new roof now will maintain the appeal of your home and prevent more significant expenses later on.
2. Remember cosmetic concerns.
Big repairs, such as a roof replacement, are clearly a top priority for any homeowner. But this doesn’t mean that you should ignore smaller, purely cosmetic projects entirely. Instead, you should make sure to handle these aesthetic tasks with the same diligence you would a more serious concern.
Landscaping is just one such instance. A crucial component of curb appeal, the landscape surrounding your home is important. Ask yourself: would you buy a house (with the possible exception of a purposeful flip or fixer-upper) that had stray patches of browning grass and not a single plant insight? At the very least, you’d probably expect a lower price to compensate for the additional cost you’d foresee. By taking the time now to research landscape design in Denver or your particular location, you can hire the pros to beautify your yard and have peace of mind knowing that’s one less thing to turn off a prospective buyer.
3. Keep things clean.
Of course, you want to keep your home‘s interior and exterior clean for your own sake, assuming you live in this property. However, it’s also an essential element of curb appeal. Trash scattered outside of the home, just as inside, can easily deter buyers, or ensure they expect a bargain. The last thing you want when preparing to sell a home is to learn you could have made a much higher profit if you’d simply cleaned up!
Take the time to properly dispose of trash, including large items like furniture that others may leave rotting on their property. The same is true of other materials, like grass clippings, fallen leaves, or other kinds of debris. The average cost of getting rid of these eyesores is significantly less than the money you could lose on a potential sale but, if you’re still not convinced, these are often projects you can take on yourself or with the help of friends or neighbors.
No matter if your house is already on the market or you imagine potentially selling years down the road, curb appeal is an unavoidable aspect of being a homeowner. Fortunately, though, you don’t have to leave these upgrades until you prepare to sell the property. Instead, take some small steps to maintain your home’s exterior, and you’ll maintain its curb appeal by default.
