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.
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| 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.
