Five ways to boost your home’s first impression

Whether you’re planning on selling your home in the very near future or you’re waiting for the last of your children to leave the nest, it’s important that you keep your home in good shape so that you won’t have any trouble selling it. While it’s a good idea to put some money into upgrading the kitchen and bathrooms, these interior home improvements won’t make any difference if prospective buyers aren’t impressed when they pull up in front of the house. Great curb appeal is important to getting buyers inside your home when you’re trying to sell it. Here are five ways that you can help your home to make a better first impression on buyers.

 

Be objective

 

After years of living in your home, you become used to it and you no longer see it objectively. The first step in boosting the curb appeal of your home is developing the ability to see your home as though you were seeing it from the first time. Even if you feel a little weird, walk out to the sidewalk in front of your home and just stare at your house as if it was the first time you ever saw it. Try to see it as prospective buyers would. Are there any glaring problems? If so, make note of them so you can get them fixed. There should be a clearly defined path to the front door, even if you never use it. The porch should be well-lit and the house numbers should be clearly visible from the street. If the garage door or front door are looking worn, you may want to replace them or repaint them as they make a big impression.

 

Enlist the experts

 

You can do a lot of the home improvement work yourself but there are some things you may want to bring in a professional for. If you’ve never done landscaping before, then anything beyond mowing the lawn, pulling weeds, and planting new flowers might be beyond your abilities. There’s no shame in admitting that you don’t have the expertise for a given project and it’s better to leave it to a pro than to attempt it yourself and do it incorrectly.

 

Respect the house’s origins

 

Every house has its own unique style. You don’t want to ruin that as you work on your home’s exterior. Try to make home improvements that accent and complement your home’s original style without trying to transform it into something it isn’t.

 

Weigh cost vs. value

 

Cost and value are two very different things. While it’s important to consider the cost of a certain home improvement project, it’s at least equally important to consider the value of that same project. Some projects will cost a lot and won’t give you much of a return on your investment while other projects might recoup nearly all of the cost.

 

Splurge a little on landscaping

 

You can make all the improvements to your home you want but if your yard doesn’t look desirable, you still won’t have great curb appeal so don’t be afraid to spend a little on some landscaping work. Have the yard aerated and seeded. Put in some fresh mulch for the planter areas. Plant some new flowers, shrubs, and trees. You may want to consider bringing in a landscaper or a lawn service professional.

Source: Detroit Free Press

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