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Curb appeal
People start to assess your house based on the very first glance they get of your home. Even if you are not selling today, tomorrow or in five years, making the best first impressions will ensure that you get top dollar when the time is right!
We are currently in a buyer’s market, so maximize your dollars by improving the front of your home is always important! Why sell your home for less?
Real Estate experts agree that the first impression of your home can either improve or reduce the perceived value of your property by up to eight per cent. Even if you are confident in selling your house, why not invest a little extra in the front yard to increase your returns?
This is such a simple idea. Just by adding seating to the front yard, people visiting a home will describe it as being more welcoming and friendly. Even if no one ever sits on the bench, the concept that you created a seat just for anyone to use is well worth the money spent.
With more urban centres using garbage can, recycling and now compost waste pick-up bins, too often homeowners have to leave them at the front of the house because they have nowhere else to go. Consider adding panels or even creating a space under the front porch to discreetly store your bins when they are not on the curb.
Having a big front walkway can provide huge returns. Buyers include accessibility into the home as part of their criteria when selecting a house. Having a clear access point into a home is so important because it draws the eye straight to the front door, which is always the first thing a guest looks for when visiting a house for the very first time.
If your walkway is included as part of your driveway, consider using the same material to blend them together. Not only does it make the walkway seem bigger, this also provides the illusion that there is more space available—always a priority in packed urban centres.
Curb appeal is the one area that most homeowners do last in favour of interior renovations, thinking that buyers will focus more on new kitchens and baths. The new reality is, buyers won’t even go into a renovated home if the front of the home doesn’t match the vision of where they see themselves living. Spend you dollars wisely and leave potential buyers with a positive lasting impression.
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