Curb Appeal: Budget Friendly Tips to Boost Buyers

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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.