Curb appeal. How often do we mention those words here on this site? Curb appeal is the always mentioned, often overlooked method of making your home stand out from the crowd when you’re trying to sell it and although much of it seems like common sense, it truly can make all the difference. Buyers are looking for the best value for their money and when it comes to curb appeal, a little can go a long way. So whether your home is already on the market or you’re getting it ready to list soon, you should be looking for some areas that you can easily brighten and freshen up with as little out of pocket as possible. With that in mind, we thought we’d make a quick list of 5 easy items, each costing less than $100, that will deliver big results for you and help you get that home sold!
Improve Your Curb Appeal for Less Than $100
Power wash your driveway and sidewalks. You can usually get powerwashing done relatively cheap, but it’s actually quite easy to do yourself. If you don’t have a power washer, check with your neighbors and see if anyone has one. If not, see if they’d be willing to chip in for a power wash weekend. Power washers, even large commercial grade ones, usually rent for under $100/day, but if you pool your funds with the neighbors, you can probably do it for even less. Plus if your neighbors’ sidewalks and driveways look as clean as yours do, buyers will get an even better impression of the home and the neighborhood in general.
Paint the front door. You can get a can of paint for cheap, especially if you’re willing to look at the samples and returns. Not only is painting your door cheap, but it’s also rather easy to do. A fresh coat of paint or stain will have a big impact as the buyers stand at the entrance while the real estate agent unlocks the door. You’d be surprised at how often we hear buyers make comments about the condition of the door as they’re waiting to go inside.
Buy some flowers. Everyone loves a little splash of color and you can pick up quite a few plants for $100. Look for bright colors and big blooms that will take up more space. Whether you plant them in a flowerbed or add a touch of spring with a few planters placed near the entrance, flowers are always a winner for a quick touch of color, especially when the weather in San Antonio has turned most of the grass brown. Just make sure you keep them well watered in the summertime so they’re not drooping or dying!
Change out the light fixture on the front porch. Most homes have a light fixture at the front door and they tend to be overlooked as we hustle in and out of our homes, often via the garage. A simple swap of a light fixture can cost a lot more than $100, but there are plenty of options for less. When your home was built, the look that was in style at the time might be seen as outdated and old today, so an update can give the impression that the home is much newer than it really is. Remember, perception is often reality in a buyer’s mind. The same can also be said for the door hardware (knobs, locks, and peepholes) – any upgrade will give you results (especially if you combine several of the items into one upgrade/update – fresh paint on the door, new light fixture, and new door hardware).
Trim the trees and shrubs. Almost every time we’ve ever seen an inspection report, it mentions trimming back trees and shrubs from the house. Anytime you have plants or trees that have contact with the building, you’re giving wood destroying insects like termites a path into your home. Tree branches near the roof line can also cause damage to roof tiles when there’s a bit of wind. So more than likely, you’re going to have to do this anyway, why not knock it out now and spruce up the curb appeal of your home with a quick trim. You can do this one yourself for no cost or hire a landscaper to do a quick clean up of the front of the home. Either way, your house will look amazing with this easy to do item.
image courtesy of dandeluca
