Buyers are looking for a reason to not buy your home. They will not go inside if that reason is sitting in your front yard.
Let’s say they view your home anyways. The entire showing will be in a negative mindset.
Here are some curb appeal tips sure to make a lasting impression with everyone who views your home.
Cleanup:
- Remove clutter (toys, garden tools, plastic sheds, etc).
- Pickup organic debris such as leaves.
- Pull and spray any weeds with weed killer.
- Apply pre-emergant every 3 months to keep weeds away.
- Rake rocks for even coverage and fill in bear spots.
- Cug grass, trim shrubs & trees, and prune dead branches.
- Sweep and pressure wash your cement surfaces*
- Wash the windows and screens (store screens).
- Fertilise and water existing plants to ensure a healthy look.
- Knock down any spider webs hanging outside your home.
- Clean up pop outs and eves where birds or other animals nested.
* You can soak especially dirty cement surfaces with water and dish soap mixture. Then rinse with a garden hose and pressure sprayer.
Maintenance:
Your roof is one of the biggest items you seen from the street. Make sure you don’t have multiple colored shingles (or tile).
- Patch holes in the driveway and reapply sealant.
- Consider replacing cracked, damaged, or unsightly cement work or
- Cement paint / seal if not too badly damaged.
- Remove trees within reach of cement structures.
- Remove bushes and trees near sewer lines and septic tanks.
Plant roots an grow into your sewer. This causes hundreds of dollars in damage. Inspect your drain lines with a camera system if you have a plant near your sewer system drain lines or septic.
Consider removing those plants close to the system. Have the sewer repaired if damaged.
Decorating:
- Consider furnishing / staging your patios.
- Place a couple colorful potted plants near your front door.
- Consider adding bushes for additional privacy.
- Apply fresh paint to front door.
- Add a seasonal wreath or decoration to front patio as applicable.