VS. 
Sometimes all it takes to turn off a buyer in Huntsville, AL is the
outside of your home—faded and peeling paint, neglected landscaping and
weather-worn furniture say to buyers “if the outside is neglected, you should
see the inside…” automatically turning away your chance to sell your home for
its top dollar and driving away buyers before they ever consider walking
through the door. Just because you may see your home at its best, it never
hurts to take a good hard look at what your curb appeal is doing to help or
harm your home-selling efforts.
There are some simple steps you can take to improve the look of your
home. A well-maintained exterior says to buyers that the home is cared for and
they will assume that this applies to the entire house—even the parts that
aren’t so easy to see.
Consider a neutral assessment
To see what others see when they approach your home, park across the
road and take a good hard look at your home. What stands out? Is there a
specific feature that you can emphasize, or a negative aspect that may need to
be downplayed? Is your yard neat and tidy or do you see areas that need to be
trimmed, straightened or cleaned? Try to think as a potential buyer would—not
as you prefer.
Make budget-friendly improvements
Any improvements you make to your home should provide at least a bit of
return in your equity—or help buyers justify your asking price without a lot of
haggling. So if you can’t afford drastic
changes, even subtle ones can make a big difference.
Swap out an old front door,
or just change the hardware if you are watching your pennies
Update old mailboxes, door
knockers, and house numbers
Paint dingy or tired
surfaces—a coat of paint can do wonders
Wash dirty porches or siding
to remove any stains or mildew
Mow the grass regularly
Remove any weeds from
sidewalk cracks
If you have more money at your disposal, consider fresh landscaping,
and add low-voltage lighting to provide a soft glow for evening shoppers.
With so many homes on the market today, it is essential to create an
environment that makes your home stand out against the rest—proving to buyers
that they will not only be purchasing a move-in ready residence, but that they
are getting the biggest bang for their home-buying buck.
