FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS

9 Ways to Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal, According to Real Estate Experts

byLAMBETH HOCHWALD

published APR 13, 2019

(Image credit: living4media / Harrison, Brian)

When it comes to curb appeal, doesn’t it seem like everyone talks only about painting your door a bright color and manicuring your front yard? My thoughts exactly. Happily, there are lots of other things you can do that will make a big difference when it comes to freshening your house’s exterior, making it the cutest one on the block and, hopefully, prompting it to linger less on the market. Here, some of the best tips, from real estate professionals.

1. Don’t just focus on shrubs and flowers

Sure, to up your curb appeal you’re going to want to trim bushes, plant fresh flowers in flowerbeds, and add a fresh topping of mulch or bark to areas that are just exposed dirt. But here’s the secret: “You want to make sure that all of the boundaries between any concrete, grass, and flowerbeds are crisp and clean,” says Brett Jennings, founder of Real Estate Experts, a real estate company in Northern California. “This makes a big difference between a messy front yard and an organized one.”

2. Do more than a light spring clean

By power washing the siding, windows, and entire exterior of your home, you’ll get rid of years of dirt and debris and give your façade an upgrade. “This is important because the vast majority of buyers who don’t like the exterior of a home won’t even look at the interior, no matter how great it is,” says Bruce Ailion, a Realtor at RE/MAX in Atlanta, Georgia. Tip: This is one project you can DIY as your local hardware store should have power washers available to rent.

3. Make sure potential buyers can find your home

It seems obvious but a house number—in an updated font—can make or break the look of your home. “Make sure your address number can be read from the street,” says Justin Riordan, founder of Spade and Archer Design Agency, a home staging company in Portland, Oregon. “If your house is hard to find, people will leave without buying. Also, your address numbers need to be in a contrasting color and it should be well-lit so it can be easily read from the street both day and night.”

4. Show your screen door the door

“I have never seen a screen door that was better-looking than the door behind it,” Riordan says. “The screen door also can make for an awkward entry sequence when attempting to get the key out of the lockbox while holding the screen door open.”

5. Upgrade your mailbox

“If your mailbox is looking a little rusty and if you want your home to look a little more glamorous, this is the perfect opportunity to replace it with a newer, more stylish option,” says Sophie Kaemmerle, a home improvement expert at Neighbor Who, an online background check platform. “Whether it’s located close to the sidewalk or by your front door, you can find the perfect mailbox to fit the look you want for your home.”

6. Play with night lights

“Your house may look its best during the day, but don’t forget to make sure it looks as good at night,” Kaemmerle says. “The right lighting can create the ambiance you want and even show off all of your home’s best features.”

7. Add window boxes or planters

“Even if you don’t have a big yard, you can amplify your windows and the look of your home’s front exterior by adding flowers below your windows,” Kaemmerle says. “This can drastically change the look of your home, thanks to the pop of color they can provide. You don’t have to have them at every window—even just one or two may be sufficient to drastically ramp up your curb appeal.”

8. See your front door as a design statement

“The front door says a lot about a home and its owner,” says Smitha Ramchandani, president of SR Real Estate Group at Sotheby’s Realty in New Jersey. “When choosing a color, consider the style of your home. Perhaps a stately black or hunter green might appeal to buyers with traditional tastes (think of 10 Downing Street’s famous shiny black door [in London]). Or think bold red or blue for fans of modern styles (look no further than the eponymous Louboutin red sole for a study in striking color contrast). Or maybe you want something more laid-back like a canary yellow, which telegraphs cheer and comfort.”

9. Make sure your home exudes warmth

“You want to aim for a homey look when you’re working on curb appeal so avoid obscuring the interior with opaque or blackout curtains if you don’t need to or at least keep them drawn to the side for showings,” Ramchandani says. “Or, put a plant in a first-floor window. Just one works to add a homey touch. Remember: A home that looks open looks more inviting to a potential buyer.”