Increase Your Home Value with Curb Appeal

Curious what you should be doing to the exterior of your home to  enhance curb appeal and yield top dollar?  If you’re a homeowner, tune into these five simple things. 

It’s Springtime in West Michigan and nicer weather is on the horizon.  As the spring season comes into bloom it’s also time to consider home maintenance and cleaning.  Your home’s curb appeal is the first chance to impress potential buyers and neighbors.   Whether buyers are wowed by a beautiful and well maintained yard or are turned off by dirty exterior walls an overgrown lawn, these things can significantly impact your home’s sales price if you’re thinking of selling. 

When buyers pull up to a house, they want to be able to picture themselves living in it and coming home to it.  Dead grass and chipped paint can make that a little more difficult to visualize.  Making sure your home is maintained and prepared before you put it on the market could help it sell faster and for top dollar. 

Here are a few tips to make sure your curb appeal is making the best impression. 

 #1 – Clean the Exterior .  Many homeowners forget to Spring Clean the outside of their homes so don’t make this mistake!  The outside of your home should be spotless.  Clean your outer walls with soapy water and wash your windows inside and out.  Washing your house can add thousands of dollars to the sales price! 

#2 - Check Your Roof & Siding.  Be sure to check your roof and siding for needed repairs as you will want to catch maintenance issues before major problems arise.   If your roof is damaged, dirty or missing shingles, it can have a negative impact on the value of your home.  If your neighbor’s roofs are well maintained or have been recently replaced, it will make yours look especially ragged.  Sometimes a good cleaning is all you need to have your roof look like new, but do yourself a favor and call a professional who has the right tools and training who will be able to clean your roof without damaging it.  Clearing debris from your roof will help prep your home for drainage from heavy spring showers.        

#3 Pressure Wash Surfaces.  You will want to blast that winter grime away! Pressure washing your home’s siding, driveway, sidewalks and patio will give your home a nice face lift to start the Spring season off right. Many local hardware stores have power washers available for rent, or you can find a local company to do it for you. 

#4 Lawn Maintenance.  It’s a good idea to get a head start on lawn maintenance as early as possible because a greener yard enhances curb appeal. For a well-fed lawn, consider weeding and seeding to strengthen the roots and get your lawn off to a great start.  Raking to remove dead grass, mowing your lawn and bagging the clippings is a sure way to make sure the seeds come into contact with the soil. Prune shrubs, trim overgrown bushes, tend to flower beds, and surround bushes and trees with mulch will give a rich feel to your yard.  If there is a barren tree in your front yard, cut it down and replace it with grass.  Any work you do now will reap benefits in your home’s selling price, usually 100% or more. 

#5 Keep Up With Maintenance.  Nothing looks worse from the curb and sets off subconscious alarms like missing bricks from the front steps or peeling paint.  Not only can these deferred maintenance items damage your home, but they can decrease the value of your house by 10%.  Some maintenance chores that will dramatically help the look of your house include repointing bricks that have lost their mortar, straightening shutters, refastening sagging gutters and replacing cracked windows. 

By making a few simple changes to your home’s exterior, you can increase your home’s value and get it sold more quickly.        

What questions do you have?  What are you doing to get your home ready for great weather?  Let me know!  I'd love to hear from you!

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