Curb Appeal Counts - 3 Tips to Ensure Your House Makes the Best First Impression – Day or Night

-

Curb Appeal Counts

Whether it’s the first day of class, a job interview, or a first date, the initial time you meet someone sets the tone for your future relationship. In fact, you never get a second chance to make a good first impression. The same goes for selling your house. Potential buyers often search the internet for homes in neighborhoods they are interested in. They may even drive by, sometimes at night, to decide if your house could be their potential dream home. So, how your home looks, or its curb appeal, may determine if buyers will even consider taking a look inside.

So, make sure you don’t curb your buyer’s enthusiasm.
Follow these tips to make sure your house makes a good first impression.

Tip #1 - Clear the Clutter

Just like you did on the inside of your house, make sure to clean up and declutter your house and yard. Keep the grass mowed and trees and hedges trimmed. Roll garbage pails to where they will not be noticed and put the kid’s bikes and toys in the garage. Also, try to keep the driveway free of cars, at least during planned showings.


Tip #2 – Fix the Flaws

Peeling paint, missing roof tiles, and a cracked concrete driveway are all negatives that buyers will subtract from the purchase price. So, in order to get top dollar for your house, consider painting or at least touching up any areas that have faded or peeling paint. Also, repair and pressure clean the roof, and resurface the driveway, if necessary, to give the home a well-kept appearance. Finally, clean the gutters, doors and windows to give an added sparkle so buyers will see a clean, well-cared for home, not a dirty fixer upper.

Tip #3 – Light Up

 


On the inside, make sure all the lights are turned on and, if you have a fireplace, light it, or put candles in it to draw attention to this featured focal point. Also, just like the interior should look light and bright, so should the exterior, especially at night. Although sunlight is the best light to show your house, this may not always be convenient for buyers who work. So, when you have to show your house at night, be sure to turn on all exterior lights, ensuring they are free of cobwebs and bugs that will dim both the lights and your buyer’s enthusiasm. In addition, be sure to open the drapes and blinds so the interior lights show through to the outside, making the house appear even more inviting as buyer’s approach.

Because it’s often difficult to envision our houses through a buyer’s eyes. Check out these two videos to see what buyers see when they visit a house, day or night. 


Following these tips will help ensure that buyers actually make it to the inside of your house. Don’t let clutter, flaws or lack of light dim your chance of a possible sale

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

From Bland to Bam: How to stage a boring bedroom with basics like Bed in a Bag

-
Image
Oftentimes people don’t know where to begin when prepping their home to sell. One of the first steps, and often one of the most difficult, is decluttering and depersonalizing the space we call home. Time spent living in a house brings years of knick knacks, family photos and torn and tattered furniture and fabrics. We often fail to notice the wear and tear our carpet, drapes and bedspreads have taken over the years. The hole in the throw pillow where our golden retriever Sophie pulled out the stuffing or the dip in the sofa where dad has a direct view to the television often goes unnoticed by household members, but focused on by potential buyers. Thus, the first step in preparing a house to sell is to pack up all the family photos, flowered vases and doilies knitted by Aunt Sue. Next, paint the walls a neutral color such as beige, white or the light gray in the bedroom below.   After this, minimize the amount of furniture in the room. Two nightstands, a dresser and ...
Read more

Secrets to Staging Smaller Spaces

-
Image
Prepping a home for sale may seem like a daunting task, especially when your space is slighter with less square footage. Focus on your smaller home’s strengths, while downplaying its weaknesses with these 10 tips to stage your condo,  townhouse  or tiny home. Tip #1 Minimize the Furniture In small spaces, less is more. Focus on putting only essential elements in the room, keeping them small in scale. Glass tables, like the ones on either side of this bed, are ideal because the clearness of the glass gives the impression of airiness and space, while hanging the one-piece lamp and side tables on the wall also helps clear floor space. Tip #2 Light up and declutter a tiny, dark bath Tip #3 Use a Round Dining Table in the Kitchen Buyers like being able to eat in the kitchen, but some kitchens may not offer the space to do so. A countertop with stools or a round table allow buyers the ability to not only cook, but also eat in what ...
Read more

Go Big but Simple to Sell Your Home

-
Image
Often sellers forget that buyers are purchasing the house itself, not the objects inside it. In order to let buyers see what they are truly buying, use large, simple objects to accentuate the features of the house. Remove extra furniture and Knick knacks for a clean, simple look that is sure to impress buyers. Tip #1 The Bigger the Better When staging a home office, opt for a simple desk with clean, modern lines. Accentuate it with a ‘50s throwback chair, decorative desk lamp, and simple lap top. Also, a big TV screen mounted above the desk is ideal for offices that serve a dual purpose as a den or extra bedroom. Tip #2 Back to Basics Staging a living or family room with a neutral color sofa and throw pillows helps to anchor the room while placing a rounded coffee table in front gives buyers ample room to walk around and peruse their future purchase. A simple side table and floor lamp add the final touch to this basic, but beautiful room. Tip #3 ...
Read more