Does "Curb Appeal" really make that much of a difference when you’re trying to sell your house? Because we are so visual and first impressions are a key component when trying to sell, curb appeal can make a big difference to how fast your house sales.

What’s the big deal with keeping the yard trimmed? Won’t they just change it once it’s sold anyway? Why wouldn’t they like the house just because the yard is a little untidy?First impressions are a key component when trying to sell. It’s easy to spend so much time readying the inside of your house for sale that you forget to clean the outside, too. You may have heard of “Curb Appeal” – it’s the visual impression your house makes to anyone viewing it from the street or curb. The idea here is to give your house an inviting look that makes the potential buyer WANT to stop and check it out. Spending some time focusing on curb appeal can really help you attract more buyers—and sell your house faster!

Get Your House Curb Appeal Ready

While The Betty Brigade does help find local services to help you with your outdoor projects, it’s not always necessary to hire professionals. Here are some tips that can help:

Clean and Repair the Outside of Your House

Nothing says “buy me” more than a clean and appealing house. A potential buyer’s first glimpse of a house is outside—at the curb. Whether you’re preparing to sell your house, or you’ve already got a “For Sale” sign stuck in the yard, you can always add to the appeal of your home’s exterior:

• Keep the trash and toys off the lawn! There is nothing that will reduce your home’s curb appeal more quickly than trash and toys thrown around.

• Make it shine. Does your house look clean and inviting, or dingy and unloved? It’s called curb appeal for a reason. It’s amazing what a little hard work can do to neaten up your home’s exterior.

• Make the color POP. Paint is a wonderful thing. It can quickly bring any old object back to life, including shutters and trim on the outside of the house. If you’re not up to doing the painting yourself, consider hiring an expert to help (That’s where WE can help!). Also, choose neutral colors—this gives your house the best chance to sell.

• Fix it. Take time to repair missing siding, broken shutters, broken fence panels, and the like. Is your sidewalk in good condition? Don’t forget the mailbox. Whether it’s on a post in the yard or up by the front door, make sure it’s painted or polished. Any numbers or letters on it should look neat and clean.

Landscaping

One of the best ways to increase curb appeal is to invest in a bit of landscaping, or spruce up what you’ve got. You don’t have to spend a fortune to add a little landscaping to the front of the house. There are some practical things you can do that add a lot of value for very little:

• Trim back tree limbs, keep the trunk areas groomed, and make sure trees near the sidewalk aren’t hitting pedestrians in the head as they walk by.

• Let the light in — Trim shrubs and bushes, so they aren’t blocking windows.

• Get rid of those dead plants! If it’s not green and healthy, it has to go!

• Add a little green. You can find inexpensive shrubs & plants at your local home center.

• Add a layer of mulch under shrubs, trees, and in the flower beds to make the yard look cared for. Mulch comes in several varieties and colors. Pick a type that looks good with your house.

• Add some color! Colorful flowers add instant color throughout the season. If you prefer not to plant them in the ground, consider placing them in pots to line the walk. Don’t forget to keep them watered!

• Keep it neat. Mow often when your house is for sale. A little fertilizer followed by watering will make a lovely, green lawn. Get rid of those unsightly crabgrass patches and weeds, too.

Other Tips

Here are a few more tips to help your house look its most appealing:

• Let them see the light – Make sure each exterior light is clean, has a new bulb, and is in good working order.

• Remove Holiday décor – If it’s not the holidays, take down any holiday lights.

• Make it feel like home – Add a new rug or mat to the porch area, this boosts curb appeal and gives buyers a place to wipe their feet before they come inside.

• Keep it REAL. It’s not a good idea to use fake flowers to decorate outside. They just fade in the sun and rain, and they look cheap. Stick to the real thing if you can.

• Add some life. If it’s fall or winter when you’re selling your house, consider adding larger-size pots of evergreen shrubs near the front door to combat the grey, bare winter.

So there’s your answer. It’s a competitive market and anything you can do as a seller to make your house more appealing puts you that much ahead of everyone else selling their house. These tips will add curb appeal and attract potential buyers in no time at all! Have any other curb appeal tips? I would like to hear them, so feel free to comment and share.