6 Curb Appeal Mistakes to Avoid to Sell Your House Faster
To make sure buyers aren’t turned away before they even make it inside, here are some curb appeal mistakes to avoid.
Avoid These Curb Appeal Mistakes
Not keeping the lawn maintained
A lawn with patches of dead grass and weeds doesn’t exactly send the best message to buyers. When your grass hasn’t been maintained, buyers are led to assume that the rest of the home hasn’t been well maintained, either. Not only is it off-putting and creates a bad first impression, but it will also have buyers calculating the time and money it will cost to get it up to par. A beautiful, thriving green lawn sends a clear message to buyers that the home is in great shape.
Overgrown landscaping
Like the lawn, the landscaping should be well maintained, too. If the landscaping is a mess, covering up the windows, growing over the sidewalks, and generally looking untended to, it will turn off buyers.
Bushes and trees should be trimmed, flower beds should be cared for and free of weeds, and if there are any areas with mulch or rock, make sure it’s fresh and full. Beautiful landscaping speaks to the quality of the home. It doesn’t have to be extravagant to make a strong first impression.
Not pressure-washing
Over time, the exterior of a home accumulates dirt, grime, and mold. As buyers are walking up to the front door, they will notice the state and quality of the exterior of the home including the sidewalk, driveway, and façade. It’s not very appealing if these areas are dirty and look like they haven’t been cared for. Spring for a good pressure-washing on the entire exterior of the home to make it shine.
Not having visible street numbers
It’s important that your house be as easy to find as possible. You don’t want buyers driving round and round looking for your home because the house numbers aren’t visible from the street. Make sure they’re easy to spot. Choose something that is appealing and complements the style of the home.
Lawn ornaments
While it can be a lot of fun to adorn your yard with your own sense of style, lawn ornaments aren’t appealing to all buyers. Just like it’s important to stage your home with the buyer in mind, it’s of equal importance to stage your curb appeal with them in mind, too. Lawn ornaments can make the yard look cluttered and turn off many buyers. To make sure it appeals to everyone, put away the lawn ornaments until you move to your next home.
Faded or chipped exterior paint
Nothing makes a house look rundown faster than chipped exterior paint. Even if your exterior paint is only a bit faded after a lot of time in the sun, it’s a good rule of thumb to give it a fresh coat of paint every few years to make it look polished and new, especially right before it goes on the market. Otherwise, buyers will be calculating that cost in their minds, too – or just skip touring the home altogether if the outside fails to impress them.
Click here for more expert tips on how to grab buyers’ attention with your curb appeal. >>