When you are getting a house ready to sell, there are things that you want to do to make certain that people really notice your house and want to come in for a closer look. That's where giving your house curb appeal comes in. Here are some ways to make your house look great on the outside and impress buyers before they even come into the house and see the inside. Best of all, they’re not very expensive at all!
1. Make certain that those gutters and windows sparkle. People like to see clean windows and gutters, so this is something that will impress buyers right away about your house. Clean out all of the soggy leaves and debris from your gutters, and it will give the house a cared for look.
2. Does your house have vinyl siding? Think about renting a power washer at a local hardware store and using it on your siding. You won’t believe the difference that clean siding will make on a house. You may not think that it’s dirty, but wait until you see what the house looks like after it has been cleaned and it could be the difference between a no or a yes when someone is considering buying your house.
3. Take a look at your landscaping and your lawn. How does it look? Don’t just look and see whether it needs to be cut, although that is important, but does it look inviting? Is the lawn green and lush? Does it look like a lawn that you can walk across in your bare feet? Keep on the look out for weeds in the sidewalk and in the grass, and get after them with a spray. If there are bare patches in your lawn, you might want to consider putting down sod. This can be expensive but at the same time it will make people more prone to buying your house.
4. Another thing that you can do that is very easy and inexpensive is to plant flowers along your house. Nothing is prettier than a house with some flowers out front, and when someone pictures the little white house with a picket fence there are always flowers. Also, if you have steps leading up to your house, buy a large earthenware pot next to them with yellow flowers inside. This really makes a house look inviting.
5. Look at any outdoor fixtures, such as the mailbox, railings and any arbors or trellises that you have. How are they looking? Do they need to be repaired or replaced? Sometimes a good fresh coat of paint will do the trick, other times you will need to replace the item. Most things aren’t very expensive, but even if you find something that is expensive and you don’t expect, think about how it might be a great help in selling your home and you may find that its worth the extra cost.
6. Think about putting in outdoor lighting, like little lights for the walkway. When a house is well lit, people have the impression that it is safe, and that is a big deal when considering a house.
7. Look at the driveway – does it have any cracks? Does it have any potholes that need to be fixed? Do the same thing with the sidewalk. The last thing you want to do is to have a perspective buyer fall and get hurt while they are coming to see your house. Not only have you lost a perspective buyer but you may have a lawsuit on your hands. So be sure to keep an eye out for things like that.
Something to remember, too, is that if you are a real estate investor chances are that you are doing this year round. Take advantage of end of season sales when you are out shopping. Though you may not have the opportunity to use that particular item right now because the season is over, the time will come around again soon when it will be in season, and because you bought it now you got it at a great price.
For someone who does real estate investing and selling as a full time job, the changing of the seasons can mean some really great bargains in the accessories department. Buy your winter things in the spring, and the spring items in the summer. You will be amazed at the kinds of things that you can find when you go shopping at the right times.
The thing that you want to remember is that you want people to see the house and think, wow that really looks like a place where I can live. I can see my relatives coming here for holidays, I can see my children playing in that yard, I can see myself driving up this driveway.
What you have to do is to step back and look at your house through a stranger’s eyes. What do you see that needs to be fixed? What do you like about the house? It can be very hard to be objective when this is your house that you are talking about, but its something that is important to do. The other option is to talk to a friend and get their opinion. But only if you feel as if you can trust them to give you an honest opinion about it.
Do everything that you can to give your buyers the very best first impression of you house that you can. It’s true that you never get a second chance to make a first impression, and that goes for houses too! Make it so that your potential buyers want to stop at your house even before they notice the for sale sign, and you will be a success.