10 Curb Appeal Tips

Whether putting your home on the real estate market or throwing a party, there are several things you can do to make sure your home’s exterior looks great. After all, your home’s first impression happens on the outside. Most homeowners do a great job of cleaning and decorating the areas people see most – inside the home. But often folks forget the importance of the appeal of the outside of the home. So here are some great tips for making your home look great from the outside in.

1. Maintain the lawn & landscaping

It sounds pretty basic but taking the time to mow, weed and trim makes a difference. Going the extra mile with an edger around the base of trees, next to walkways, and near landscaping really shows. Look at your landscaping closely, pull any weeds and trim overgrown bushes. Also, prune any dead limbs on trees or landscaping.

2. Remove any trash or yard clippings

After completing the lawn and landscaping work, get rid of the excess debris. A pile of grass clippings on top of your lawn isn’t appealing. Rake it up or use a bag mower when mowing. Make sure any of the weeds pulled or edging debris is removed. A leaf blower or strong hose is a good way to get rid of any small pieces left behind on concrete driveways, walkways or patios.

3. Replace any exterior lighting that has burned out

Look at your yard just after the sunset. Is there any landscaping lighting that needs to be adjusted? What about security lighting or porch lights? Replacing these bulbs is a quick task that makes a difference. Buyers like to turn on light switches and notice when easily replaced bulbs are missing.  

4. Touch up any paint that is chipping

While we don’t recommend spending the money to have your entire house repainted for a home sale, making sure that any noticeable wear and tear on the current paint job is touched up makes a big difference. Also look at wood or iron railings, stair spindles, porch pillars and window frames for places to touch up the paint.

5. Check the roof and gutters

When was the last time you checked your roof? Be sure any shingles that may have popped up are hammered down. Clear the gutters of any debris. Finally, make sure the downspouts are connected and routed away from your home properly. With the rise of drone photography, photos of homes for sale may now include an image from above your home that will feature your roof. Make sure it is looking good.

6. Attend to any cracked concrete

Small cracks that are less than a quarter inch wide are relatively easy to repair yourself with premixed concrete crack filler that comes in tubes similar to caulk. Fixing larger cracks is also a possible DIY job, or you can hire a concrete repair company to do it for you.

7. Fix the fencing

If you have fencing now is the time to check it. Look for any broken or missing planks then repair or replace them. Touch up any chipped or missing paint. Make sure fencing door latches are working properly.

8. Maintain the mailbox

The mailbox is often the closest thing to the street that people see when they pull up to your property. Check to make sure the mailbox isn’t leaning and fix if it is. Also be sure that the mailbox is clean and touch up the paint if needed. If the mailbox is attached to the front of your home, make sure it is secure and clean.

Which of these mailboxes is more appealing?

9. Brighten the front door

Is the front door dirty and dingy? Entry doors take a lot of abuse on daily basis. It may just need a good scrubbing. If paint chipped or missing, touch up or repaint the door. If you’re feeling decorative, add a wreath or welcome sign to add some personality to the front door to make it more inviting.

10. Clean the windows

The exterior side of windows can easily get a buildup of dust and water spots. Consider giving the windows a good scrub. This will not only make them sparkle from the outside, it will let more light in on the inside. Check out a great video and products to make your exterior window washing easier here.

Don’t let this list overwhelm you. Most of these items can be done in a weekend. If you have help, you might even be able to complete it all in one day. Don’t have the time or help? Contact TheBoehmer Team for recommendations on local professionals that can do the job for you. Or if you are thinking of listing your home for sale contact The BoehmerTeam to find out how we help sellers make the most of their home sale.

Tis the Season… to Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal

Spring in the Midwest is the perfect time to boost your home’s curb appeal in ways that will last all year long.

If you are thinking of selling your home, you should know the importance of curb appeal to buyers. According to the National Association of Realtors, 63% of homebuyers will drop by after viewing your home online. The exterior, including the front entry, yard, driveway and sidewalk, will serve as a snapshot of what’s to see inside.

Homes with high curb appeal command higher prices and take less time to sell. But even if you are not currently thinking of selling your home, the following maintenance and beautifying tasks will help create the home you’d like to live with anyway. 

Wash Up

A bucket of soapy water and a long-handled, soft-bristled brush can remove the dust and dirt that have splashed onto your wood, vinyl, metal, stucco, brick, and fiber cement siding. Power washers can reveal the true color of your flagstone walkways. Wash your windows inside and out, swipe cobwebs from eaves, and hose down downspouts. Don’t forget to wash the garage door. 

Touch Up the Paint

The most commonly offered curb appeal advice from real estate pros and appraisers is to give the exterior of your home a good paint job (if not maintenance free). Your best bet is to match the paint you already have: Scrape off a little and ask your local paint store to match it. 

Check the Roof

The condition of your roof is one of the first things buyers notice and appraisers assess. Missing, curled, or faded shingles add nothing to the look or value of your house. If your neighbors have maintained or replaced their roofs, yours will look especially shabby. 

Manicure the Yard

A well-manicured lawn, fresh mulch, and pruned shrubs boost the curb appeal of any home. Replace overgrown bushes with leafy plants and colorful annuals. Surround bushes and trees with a little mulch. Put a crisp edge on garden beds, pull weeds and invasive vines, and plant a few potted flowers. Green up your grass with lawn food and water. Cover bare spots with seeds and sod, get rid of crab grass, and mow regularly. 

Add Color

Even a little color attracts and pleases the eye of would-be buyers. Dig a flowerbed by the mailbox and plant some pansies. Place a brightly colored bench or Adirondack chair on the front porch. Paint the front door a complimentary color. 

Maintenance

Nothing looks scarier from the curb than hanging gutters, 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 up to 10%. Be sure to refasten sagging gutters, re-point bricks that have lost their mortar, reseal cracked asphalt, straighten shutters and replace any cracked windows. 

List

Once you have your home exterior spruced up and beautified, sit back, relax and enjoy it – then call The Boehmer Team when you are ready to list it.  We make the process of selling your home easier than the process of getting it ready for sale. Contact us at www.TheBoehmerTeam.com