Is your home an invitation?
Part of providing quality service as a real estate broker is keeping up with my reading. While I read plenty of good articles and a few great articles, I rarely read anything that’s wonderful. But the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel published a wonderful article on 04/20/2014 on the front page of their Entree section, page 1N.
“Is your home an invitation? Curb Appeal welcomes guests, experts say.”
“A house with curb appeal offers a sense of welcome and a visual request to come closer.” These are the words of John Gidding, an Atlanta architectural and landscape designer who is internationally syndicated on HGTV’s “Curb Appeal” television show. I couldn’t agree more.
Think of curb appeal as exterior staging. Buyers begin searching for homes online. If buyers like what they see (meaning a great home plus high quality professional photography), they will drive by the property. But if drive-by reality does not match those photos, buyers don’t call their agent for a showing. Without showings, there are no offers.
Curb appeal is a home’s first impression. This first impression begins when the buyers arrive for a showing and ends the moment they step inside. Smart sellers understand that even small details must be perfect. Buyers look around while at the front door with their real estate broker, who is fumbling with the lock box and trying to open the front door. What do the buyers see? Are they gazing upon manicured plants or leaf litter under unkempt bushes? Do they see fresh paint or a “minor” crack in the window?
The Journal-Sentinel offered 12 tips, and they bear repeating here. Remember that not all of these are appropriate for every home and every architectural style.
1. Paint the front door.
2. Replace the light fixture. (Mike’s comment: Ensure the bulb works!)
3. Replace the house numbers.
4. Replace the door mat. (Mike’s comment: Clean/hose off the stoop, too!)
5. Spread new mulch to give your planting beds a fresh, well-tended look.
6. Choose some interesting containers for the front porch, stoop, or walkway and add flowers for color. (Mike’s comment: Don’t go crazy; one or two is usually fine. Be sure to have well-tended flowers inside the containers, too. The only thing worse than ugly plastic flowers are faded ugly plastic flowers or dead plants.)
7. Add seating by painting a piece of furniture- whether a bench or a flea market chair. (Mike’s comment: If the your front entry is large enough, including front porches, consider two chairs and a small table staged with two drinks to suggest relaxing times on the front yard.)
8. Add a seasonal wreath. (Mike’s comment: Wreaths aren’t just for winter holidays!)
9. Consider adding a piece of outdoor art.
10. Add some window boxes filled with vines and fresh blooms. (Mike’s comment: Be careful! Not only can this force wet soil against a home, but it can add quite a bit of weight and interrupt siding. Have a professional install or risk a negative mark on a home inspection report with a buyer repair demand.)
11. Add landscape lighting. (Mike’s comment: As with window boxes, do this carefully and legally. Adding lighting that isn’t to code only creates a negative mark on a home inspection report with a buyer repair demand.)
12. Trim overgrown hedges and shrubs.
Bonus: Replace weather-beaten or dated locks with new locks and ensure exterior doors open and close freely. This is especially important if keys require “a little” jiggling or shaking to get the door to open! Some agents have a hard time opening imperfect locks, give up easily, and take their buyers to the next home. Worse, many buyers view troublesome locks as a reflection upon the maintenance and upkeep of the entire home! Is not replacing a $50.00 lock set worth missing showings and additional scrutiny?
Staging sell homes faster and for higher prices. Don’t neglect staging your home’s exterior. Curb appeal matters! I have successfully helped sellers improve their interior and exterior staging, sold their homes quickly, and sold those homes for more than they would have sold for otherwise. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you want to discuss staging and curb appeal!