They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression. When it comes to selling a house, first impressions are everything. In fact, it’s estimated that half of homebuyers make their decision on whether they’re interested in a house based on what they can see from the street.
This is why you should focus a large portion of your efforts on making your house as attractive as possible from the outside, and prioritize renovations that make your home not only more functional but more aesthetically pleasing as well. In this article, we’re going to show you a few ways you can do exactly that.
Take Out Your Pressure Washer
Sometimes all the exterior needs is a good cleaning. So you should either get your pressure washer out or rent one and do some cleanup.
Focus on areas like gutters and siding. You should also spend time on your deck and any visible areas where people walk, like your driveway, patio, and walkways.
Get a New Roof
Getting a new roof isn’t just a good way to improve your home’s curb appeal; it’s something a lot of homeowners will appreciate as well. Most people understand that the roof is one of the most necessary, yet unavoidable, repairs on a house, and knowing that the roof is new is a major selling point.
The thing is that many people don’t even see the roof as a style element, and simply choose something that’s reliable and cheap. But the truth is that the roof can take up as much as 50% of your home’s visual footprint, so you have to make it count.
Don’t be afraid to get a little more creative with the colors, and consider different materials like metal shingles, for example. You also need to make sure you work with the right contractor.
Not only should they be suited to your climate conditions, but they should be well-established in the community and have a solid track record. It also helps if they offer a range of different services. Companies like Semper Solaris, for example, have been in the roofing repair and roofing replacement business for years.
They don’t just perform roof replacements — they also offer solar battery installations. This means they’re able to install roofs that can support a solar battery system and are designed for maximum sun exposure.
Focus on the Small Things
There are also a lot of small things you can do to boost your home’s curb appeal on a budget. You could install a nice potted garden on your porch, for example, or repaint your front fence. Another easy thing you can do is repaint the front entrance in a bold color.
This may seem like a minor change, but many realtors agree that simply updating the front entrance to an eye-catching color that complements the rest of the house can make a big difference.
Other details that can boost your house’s curb appeal include a new mailbox, new door fixtures, and new house numbers. All of these changes add up, and help pull the whole house’s look together.
Paint the Exterior
If you’re up for the task, you can also take it a step further and repaint the entire exterior of the house. This is something you can have contractors do as well, though you may not get quite as good a return doing it yourself.
However, if you have the budget, that’s one of the best things you can do to significantly improve your house’s look. And it can be done in a matter of days as well.
Redo Your Walkway
You should also consider redoing your main walkway if it’s been a while. This is the literal path to your house, and you can be sure this is where prospective homebuyers will begin forming their visual impression.
If they see signs of damage here, that alone can be enough to make them start worrying about other problems in the house. So at minimum, consider having the whole thing redone if it’s suffered significant wear, or make repairs where you can.
This might also be a good time to consider resurfacing or redoing your driveway. If you follow these few tips, you’ll not only make your home more inviting, but increase its perceived value and reduce the time it spends on the market.
So make sure you follow some or all of these tips, and keep an eye on your return on investment.
