How to Boost Curb Appeal to Maximize Your Property Value

Posted on May 26, 2021 by - Home Ownership, Real Estate Market

All homeowners who are considering selling their homes want to know one thing: “how much can we get for our home?”

There are many factors that appraisers and sellers use to determine your home’s value. This makes nailing down the exact value of your home before the sale very tricky – if not impossible. 

However, as the homeowner, your best course of action to maximize your home’s value is to increase its curb appeal.

As mentioned in Realtor Magazine last year, Homes with high curb appeal tend to sell for an average of 7% more than similar houses with an uninviting exterior. This data is according to a joint study conducted by the University of Alabama and the University of Texas at Arlington. 

How Does Curb Appeal Increase Property Value?

Curb appeal is best described as your property’s “first impression”. When guests or potential buyers pull into your driveway, what do they see? 

Do they see cracked paint and curled tiles on the roof, or do they see a beautifully landscaped front yard and a clean, well-kept exterior?

Obviously, the latter is what will maximize the wow factor for potential buyers and appraisers alike. Boosting your curb appeal doesn’t necessarily have to break the bank, either. 

Here are some top tips to get your property sparkling, and ready for both appraisers and potential buyers!

Give the Exterior a Facelift

To start, make sure the exterior of your property is as clean as possible. Before diving into larger focus areas such as painting and landscaping, consider washing all of the dirt, mildew, and general uncleanliness from the outside of your home.

Removing the dust and dirt that has splashed onto the exterior due to rainy weather or sprinkler systems is an easy way to boost a property’s curb appeal. Sometimes, all this requires is a bucket of soapy water and a soft-fiber brush – especially when restoring garage doors back to their brilliant shade of white. 

For patios and paved areas that have become dull over time, consider buying or renting a pressure washer. Smaller pressure washers can be purchased at virtually any home improvement store for $100 or less. Oftentimes, larger pressure washers are available to rent at a reasonable price as well, and you’ll be surprised just how different your patio and pool area will look, after a good wash.

Maximize the Upkeep

Nothing is more damaging to curb appeal than a poorly-maintained property. Now that the exterior of your home is sparkling clean, it’s a great time to revisit your maintenance needs. 

Be sure that all of the smaller details are handled. This means no loose bricks or stone, and no clogged, sagging gutters. Flower beds should be cleared of weeds and overgrowth, and any cracks in the asphalt should be sealed. Straighten your shutters, and repair all apparent damages – such as cracked windows and loosely-hinged doors. 

Add Vivid Colors

Having colorful landscaping that is both elegant and well-executed pleases the eye of any potential buyer. Bright landscaping elements can be very attractive, but having anything that is overly flashy or gaudy is never a good thing when maximizing curb appeal. 

One way to add lots of color while maintaining a pleasing exterior is to brighten up your landscaping. Be sure that all of the colors you choose blend well, not only on your property but within the neighborhood as well. A clean xeriscape with healthy cacti and shrubs can be an excellent way to garner positive attention. 

Lastly, Assess the Larger Details

Roofing and paint are also very important to a home’s value, and it’s curb appeal. One of the biggest determining factors of a home’s value is – understandably – the condition of the roof. If your roofing needs some attention compared to other homes in your neighborhood, then it’s time to consider some serious repairs, even if it may be costly.

The paint or stucco condition on the exterior of your home is equally important to curb appeal. Even if you have beautiful landscaping, attractive outdoor lighting, and a roof that’s in perfect condition, if the look of the exterior isn’t up to par, buyers and appraisers may not notice any of the other positives. 

Assessing the larger details before placing your home on the market can be the single most important aspect of optimizing curb appeal. Though larger repairs often require hiring professionals and a greater budget, it is essential to maximizing the value of your home.

Curb appeal is one of the greatest determining factors of your home’s value. Consider it to be your home’s “handshake”, as it is your home’s first impression on buyers and appraisers alike. Therefore, it is very important to maximize its potential to show all of the most charming aspects of your property.

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