I’ve you’ve been watching the property market closely in recent months and feel like your part of the state is starting to heat up, price-wise, you’re probably looking at your home and considering ways to improve it for a sale. Likewise, if you need to move soon because of a job relocation, family matter, or other reason, you should look at your property with fresh eyes to determine what needs to be done to make it appealing to buyers.
While the inside of your home certainly needs lots of love and attention, don’t put all your time, money, and energy into the interior and forget about the exterior. After all, when interested homebuyers arrive at your address for an inspection, the first thing they’ll notice is whether or not your property has decent curb appeal. Thankfully, there are various simple yet effective tasks you can complete to get your home looking its best from the outside in today.
Painting
If the paint’s peeling on the outside of your home, or on the fence that designates its boundary, do some painting before the For Sale sign goes up. Similarly, if the colors used previously really date the property or are too outlandish or otherwise unappealing, commit to a fresh coat of paint.
You can do this job yourself, most likely, even if you don’t have experience. Watch videos on YouTube for tips or talk to your local hardware store for ideas. Alternatively, hire a professional painter who can get the task done quickly and smoothly. If you don’t know where to start when it comes to hiring someone, you could take a look at a site like MyHousePainter https://www.myhousepainter.com/painters/tennessee/, get some free estimates, and then go ahead and research those who have given estimates so you can then choose a painter who you can be confident will do a good job. Either way, preparation is key to a quality finish, so whoever does the painting should spend time washing and sanding back surfaces, taping up areas, etc. Once your home and/or fence has a fresh coat of paint, your property will immediately look newer, more modern, and more attractive.
Replace Doors, Windows, and Other Fixtures and Fittings
Take a look around at the outdoor areas to see if any fixtures and fittings need to be replaced to make your home look well cared for. In particular, concentrate on things like your front and back door, door knockers, locks, windows, garage doors, and mailbox. Over time, these things wear down and may become unfashionable, so it’s worth upgrading to get the curb appeal you need for a quick sale.
Also, it pays to fix up your driveway, especially if it has cracks in it (resurfacing is a good option), and install or repair a fence where needed, clean the roof, and pretty up the entranceway to your front door. Adding some décor items and greenery at the entrance will help to make people immediately feel welcome. Plus, make sure you have adequate outdoor lighting illuminating pathways and your yard, so interested parties can easily inspect your home after dark if they want.
Improve Your Lawn and Garden
It’s also necessary to spend time on your lawn and gardens so buyers can see the potential of the outdoor areas and how they and their families might make use of them. Start by mowing your lawn regularly, so it always looks neat and tidy. Doing this will also help with its overall condition.
Water your lawn regularly, particularly in the hot and dry months, and fertilize and aerate it at least twice per year. Rake up leaves which fall on the lawn, too, so these don’t form a mat when wet and suffocate the grass. You may also need to fill in noticeably bare areas of lawn with some small extra pieces of turf. If you struggle with finding the time to fit in these kinds of jobs or don’t have the skillset for them, remember that you can hire someone to do it for you. Hop online and search for “lawn maintenance services near me” for gardeners in your area.
As for other greenery, if gardens haven’t received much TLC in recent years, you’ll need to rectify this ASAP. Cut back trees and shrubs overhanging your house or pathways and remove dead trees or branches. Do some weeding and place mulch around your plants to help them be healthy and visually striking, too.
If your yard is looking rather bare, go out and buy new plants from a nursery or home depot. Alternatively, consider saving money by dividing bulbs currently in your garden, or getting cuttings from friends and families. You can also pick up affordable plants from garage sales.
Enhancing the curb appeal of your property may require the outlay of money, time, and energy, yet the results should make it well worth it. The more appealing your home is on the outside when people go to check it out, the more likely it is that you’ll find the right buyer.