By Rose Weber (Guest Blogger)
Making a great first impression is essential when trying to sell your home in the Columbia area. Studies have shown that many prospective home buyers decide on whether to consider your home with seconds of arriving at the front door. Make sure that your home stands out from the crowd with these easy and budget-friendly ways to boost your home’s curb appeal:
It may go without saying that keeping your front yard clean is a must when trying to sell your home. Cleaning up includes clearing away leaves, sticks, or debris that have gone unnoticed. Look for any trash that could have blown into your yard as well. Making sure that your lawn is free from weeds and clearing the walkway to the front door is essential in creating a great first impression.
Nothing is more welcoming than a splash of color near a front door or walkway. Consider choosing a potted seasonal flower that can add vibrancy and freshness to the exterior of your home. Adding a few plants from the local garden center doesn’t cost a lot and can do wonders in adding natural beauty to your home. Consider choosing a native flower, like Coneflowers or Black-Eyed Susan, that is adapted to the Columbia area and will require little attention during the involved process of selling your home.
Keeping up with lawn maintenance is a great way to boost the curb appeal of your home quickly. Consider mowing the lawn the day before a showing or open house to create an overall professional look. Trim the edges of the yard as well and consider adding fertilizer to encourage healthy growth. The condition of the lawn is a significant factor when gauging the curb appeal of a home. Caring for your lawn will show potential buyers that you have maintained the house well. If you don’t have time to mow yourself you can always hire a professional. According to LawnStarter, the price for a lawn mowing service in Columbia, SC is only $48 - a small price to pay in comparison to the curb appeal a nicely mowed lawn adds.
Potential home buyers will notice the little things that need attention like burnt out light bulbs or rips in window screens. Take care to evaluate the curb appeal of your home by fixing these small eyesores that could make or break the chances of an offer. Replace light bulbs, repair screens, and make sure that spiderwebs are transparent to make a good impression. Also, consider clearing out gutters and second check gutter connections in the likelihood that your home is seen after a rainstorm. Overflowing gutters and water issues will be easily spotted and can make a wrong impression.
Choosing to add a fresh coat of paint on your front door, shutters, or any other wood accent on the front of your home will go a long way regarding curb appeal. Use some leftover paint from another project or invest in a gallon of a new color that will provide a fresh and professional look to your home. Choose a warm day to paint these areas of your home and don’t be afraid to choose a vibrant or slightly unusual color to a front door to help your home stand out. Ask your realtor about color options that have worked well in the past with other clients if you’re unsure of your color choice.
Potential buyers who visit your home want to be able to envision themselves living there. Use furniture from the backyard to create an outdoor living space in front of your house. Just adding a chair and a small side table to a corner of an entryway is a great way to soften the look of your home. Placing a bistro table near a beautiful part of the garden is also a great way to create an outdoor living space that will help boost curb appeal. Check local second-hand stores for outdoor furniture that will do well in weather conditions as well as provide an updated look.
Adding curb appeal doesn’t have to cost a lot for an increase in resale value. There are plenty of things that you can do to spruce up your home that only require a little bit of time and some elbow grease. Consider cleaning up the yard and mowing the lawn regularly as well as fixing the small eyesores that can hinder curb appeal. Shop within your home and backyard for items to add to the front entryway and create an outdoor living space as well. Add eye-catching color to your home with fresh flowers near the front door as well as a quick coat of paint to raise curb appeal. Consider all of these budget-friendly ways to boost your home’s curb appeal to get an offer in hand quickly.
Rose Weber is a garden care extraordinaire. She has been gardening since she was a child and loves to spend her weekends teaching her grandchildren all about growing a vegetable patch. You can find her sharing her crop with her friends and neighbors.