Here are some easy ways to improve the look of your home before it goes on the market.
Your upcoming move has you thinking about all the details of listing your home with a real estate agent. You’re making a list of the improvements you need to make.
Whether your home is in good shape and turnkey ready for the next occupants or you’ve been too busy getting ready to move to your new place to realize what shape your current home is in, there are always changes to be made.
These betterments could be as easy as sweeping the porch, chasing cobwebs from the corners, or blowing leaves off the driveway. They could involve a can of paint or a new doorknob.
Keep reading for some simple and effective enhancements you can make to turn up the curb appeal.
Think Green - Green is the color of life. We often associate it with growth and prosperity, balance and nature, harmony and renewal.
And whether the green comes in the form of grass, plants, trees, shrubs, or flowers, make sure a potential buyer sees lush, green life when they drive up to your property.
You want them to be drawn to your home. You want them to picture themselves living there.
Psychologically, the color green is welcoming and hopeful.
Look around your landscape to see what verdant additions you can make.
Check here for specific plant and shrubbery ideas.
Tidy Up - No matter how you feel about clutter, tidying up, or Marie Kondo, the truth is, ditching the clutter makes us healthier.
When things are a mess, our mental real estate is a mess. That only leads to physical and emotional and spiritual messes, as well.
On the flip side, when we clean up, get rid of the junk, and declutter our homes, there is a tremendous impact on our mental health.
We think more clearly. We can finally see what truly matters.
This also applies when you are ready to put your home on the market.
As you go through your house, room by room, and get rid of the excess, make sure you are decluttering the outside of the house, as well as inside the garage.
As potential clients drive up to and walk through your home, they will notice. They will feel the cleanliness.
This will attract them to your home, and isn’t that exactly what you’re going for?
Not only will your potential clients be more likely to make an offer, but you’ll also have a lot less to pack!
Bright Lights - It’s time to look around to see your home through a potential buyer’s eyes in relation to the light.
Take a walk around the exterior and focus on the lighting.
Inspect the outside lights and lamps, from the smallest bulb to the largest spotlight.
Look at the windows. Open the blinds or raise the shades so you can see how much of that bright North Texas sunlight comes through.
Do the windows need a thorough cleaning? Get out the Windex or white vinegar and make them shine.
Light brings about openness. Natural light is something our bodies and minds enjoy and crave.
Make sure the light shines on the inside and outside of your home.
“As we work to create light for others, we naturally light our own way.”
Flower Power - When you see a garden of flowers, bright blooms, and delicate, feathery petals, do you get a blissful feeling?
Flowers are cheerful and inviting. They give us a sense of nurturing and careful attention.
No matter the time of year, you can brighten up your landscaping with spring, summer, fall, or winter beauty in your flower beds.
Here is a list of flower ideas by season…
Spring: Hellebores, Crocuses, Bleeding Hearts, Pansies, Tulips, Lilacs
Summer: Irises, Peonies, Geraniums, Bee Balm, Rudbeckia, Roses
Fall: Chrysanthemums, Coneflowers, Asters, Autumn Sedum
Winter: Pansies, Christmas Rose, Winter-blooming Camellia, Winterberry Holly
If you don’t have garden beds or don’t want to spend the money on lots of new plants, no worries.
A few flower pots and decor placed on your front steps or porch can bring beauty and attractiveness to your home, as well.
Some ideas for potted plants:
Spring: Pansies, Daffodils, Tulips, Violas, Hyacinth
Summer: Zinnias, Petunias, Marigolds, Lantana, Impatiens
Fall: Pumpkins, Hay Bales, Gourds, Chrysanthemums, Ornamental Kale or Cabbage
Winter: Pansies, Pine Garlands, Poinsettias, Cyclamen
The addition of floral beauty can bring delight, warmth, and vibrancy to the outside of your home.
Stash the Trash - Garbage is a part of life, but not one that anyone wants to look at or think about very often.
Stow your garbage bins in the garage, in a shed, or somewhere out of the way.
When your potential clients drive up to your property or when your real estate photographer takes photos for the MLS, trash is the last thing you want in view.
This also goes for garden tools, ladders, or any other apparatuses that could be in the way or are creating an eyesore.
A tidy home is a happy, healthy home, and that is the vibe you want to give to the potential clients who come for a look.
Don’t forget to stash the trash.
Prep the Porch - A porch is a place for gathering family, friends, and neighbors to laugh, share a meal, a coffee or bottle of wine, and enjoy the fresh air.
Think about the memories you have made on your porch.
Do those memories bring a smile, maybe even some laughter at a particular joke that was told or a prank you pulled on the kids?
The future owners of your home are looking to make treasured memories like yours.
Make sure your porch is an inviting space, whether it is large or small. You want your future buyers to see themselves making sweet memories there.
Clean up any cobwebs, mold or mildew on railings, and sweep or scrub the floors.
If you have outdoor furniture, place it in an arrangement that lends itself to entertaining.
Visualization of what the future holds for your clients is helpful. For them to see themselves with family and new neighbors will help with their decision to buy.
Create a porch scene that is inviting to future homeowners.
Mailbox Delivery - Despite the prominence of the internet and smartphones, snail mail is still alive and well.
And who doesn’t love receiving a card or hand-written letter in the mailbox?
During the lockdown, snail mail has had somewhat of a revival. According to a New York Times article, more and more people turned to snail mail to keep in touch.
Inspect your mailbox to see what shape it is in.
Whether it’s on a post by the street or screwed to the wall beside your front door, make sure it is ready for the new owners to look forward to checking their mail every day.
Does it need a fresh coat of paint?
What about new hardware?
Are the street letters still visible or almost impossible to read?
Make whatever changes or improvements necessary to improve the look and functionality of the mailbox.
Blessings on your mission to improve the curb appeal of your home.
Your potential owners will notice and be thankful for your attention to the details.