Curb Appeal: Simple Steps to Make Your Home Stand Out
Summer is in full bloom here in Atlanta! The lawns are greens, trees are full and all the vibrant colors surrounding your home make it pop! Time to take advantage of this beautiful time of year when thinking about listing. So, let’s talk about one of the most important things that you cannot overlook when getting your home ready to sell… curb appeal! It doesn’t matter if your listing in Buckhead, Roswell, Midtown or Alpharetta, investing in your curb appeal will always be a great idea!
Our business is primarily focused on the inside of the house. Decluttering and neutralizing is the goal if it is occupied. Furnishing it with furniture and decor if it is vacant. We want potential buyers to make that emotional connection and fall in love with the house.
However, when we do a pre-listing consultation, we always make note of the exterior and any ways the curb appeal can be improved upon. The outside of your home is the first impression buyers get and can often convey the message of whether you maintained your home or not. No matter how beautiful your online photos are, poor curb appeal is the one thing that can make potential buyers keep on driving when they see it in person. Here are some easy edits to make the exterior of your house shine…
Pull up any bushes or plants that are not thriving. Trim back all overgrown trees and shrubs. Add fresh dark mulch (not red colored) or pine straw to flower beds and islands.
Pressure washing your driveway, sidewalk and front porch/entry. Be careful pressure washing your house unless you will be painting. This can cause paint to chip so we do not recommend it.
Make sure your mailbox is clean, standing up straight and the street numbers are easy to read. Planting flowers at your mailbox adds a nice touch. Zinnias are a drought tolerant plant we love.
Give your front door some love. Stain it or paint it if it is looking weathered. Black is a great choice for door color no matter the style of home. At the very least, wash your door with warm soapy water. Clean all side windows and any exterior lights. Make sure all lightbulbs are matching and a warm white not stark. We like lightbulbs that are 2700K-3000K.
Add a clean doormat and a planter with flowers to welcome potential buyers as they wait for the door to be unlocked. Sometimes this takes a while! ;)
Make outside spaces shine with furniture. Show buyers all of the great outdoor entertaining space you have! If you have outdoor furniture, give it a good cleaning or add new outdoor pillows for a nice touch. If you don’t have outdoor furniture, consider investing in some that you can take with you to your new home. Check out our blog post on some of our favorite affordable outdoor furniture.
Above is a home that we staged. It sat for a little bit, so the sellers wanted to make it feel more welcoming before re-listing. Great idea! We added some outdoor furniture and a welcoming door mat. The sellers made sure to add beautiful planters and have the landscaping in tip top shape. Shortly after adding these curb appeal touches and re-listing, the home went under contract!
For more outdoor staging tips unique to your home, book a pre listing consultation with us today.
