By Travis Close, ABR, GREEN, GRI, e-PRO
President, Greater Chattanooga Association of REALTORS®
Your home’s curb appeal is the first chance to impress potential buyers. And later this month, you’ll have that chance during Greater Chattanooga Open House Weekend (April 25-26). Whether buyers are wowed by a beautiful and well-maintained yard or are repelled by dirty exterior walls and an overgrown lawn can significantly impact your home’s sales price if you're thinking of selling it this spring.
When buyers pull up to a house, they want to be able to picture themselves living in and coming home to it. Dead grass and chipped paint can make that all the more difficult to visualize. Making sure your home is prepared - both inside and out - 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 on potential buyers:
Clean your house. It’s not only the inside of your home that needs to be kept clean of dirt and grime, the outside of your home should be just as spotless. Clean your outer walls with soapy water and wash your windows inside and out.” Washing your house can substantially raise the sale price.
A new coat of paint. After you’ve cleaned your home’s exterior, the next step is to apply a fresh coat of paint. A new coat of paint is like a face-lift for your home. But don’t try to make a statement with your home’s color. If your home is a wildly different color from the other homes in your neighborhood, it could negatively affect a buyer’s perception of the home’s value.
A well-manicured yard. Your front yard creates your home’s first impression to prospective buyers, so make sure that your lawn is green and trimmed and your shrubs and flower beds are well tended. It is important to keep your yard neat, raking any fallen leaves and pulling any weeds. If there is a barren tree in your front yard, cut it down and replace it with grass.
Repair the roof. If your roof is damaged, dirty or missing shingles, it can have a negative impact on the value of your home. If your neighbors’ 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. However, that isn’t a project you will want to take on yourself without the proper equipment; hire a professional with the right tools and training, who will be able to clean your roof without damaging it.
In addition to these suggestions for better curb appeal, also consider what impression your home makes online. If the photos show a dirty home or a neglected yard, potential buyers might move on to viewing other potential homes and never see yours in person. By making a few simple changes to your home’s exterior, you can increase your home’s value, attract buyers more quickly and hopefully help it sell more quickly this spring.
If you’re a seller and want to make sure your home is part of Greater Chattanooga Open House Weekend (April 25-26), contact your REALTOR® to make sure the open house is registered with the Multiple Listing Service. If you’re a buyer ready to start looking, make sure to engage a REALTOR® and ask them which homes to preview.