If you’ve ever sold a house or are actively looking to sell your house, chances are that you’ve come across the concept of curb appeal.
For the uninitiated, this might seem like a daunting thing that further complicates the already complex process of selling a home. However, curb appeal is actually much more straightforward than it might appear at first glance — and in this post, we’ll take a closer look at what exactly it is, its importance when it comes to selling a home, and how you can enhance your home’s curb appeal.
What is Curb Appeal?
Curb appeal is a term that is generally used in the real estate industry to describe how visually attractive or appealing a property is when it is viewed from the street or the curb.
It can be influenced by many different factors, like the age of the property, any signs of visible wear and tear on the property, the architectural style of the property, as well as any visible exterior home improvements such as landscaping or a fresh coat of paint.
Why is Curb Appeal Important?
Curb appeal is exceptionally important if you are looking to sell a home because it can have a significant impact on the perception of the home by a potential buyer.
When a potential buyer views a property for the first time, they begin to form an impression about the state of the property as well as its attractiveness even before they get to the front door. This impression they form about the property can influence how they value the property.
Homes with higher curb appeal are thus more likely to attract higher offers from potential buyers and interested parties. On the other hand, homes with poor curb appeal might be subconsciously perceived by potential buyers as needing significant repair or maintenance works done. They may be less likely to make an offer as a result or may make a lower offer.
Because of this, maximizing a home’s curb appeal is essential if you want to ensure that you are able to sell it at the best possible price – especially in a highly competitive housing market like Pittsburgh’s.
How to Enhance Your Home’s Curb Appeal?
There are many ways that you can prepare your home for sale and enhance its curb appeal. Some of the more common strategies used by real estate agents and homeowners include:
Landscaping Improvements
If your home has a yard or a garden, it can be a good idea to make some landscaping improvements to spruce up the overall appearance of the home’s outdoor spaces.
Even if you don’t garden regularly or maintain an elaborate garden, you can still consider engaging a gardener or landscaper to assist with mowing the lawn, trimming any overgrown hedges and removing any dead plants. For a more elevated appearance, you can also temporarily install outdoor lighting or landscape features such as outdoor sculptures.
Refreshing the Exterior
A fresh coat of paint on your home’s exterior can also help it look as good as new. Peeling paint can make a home appear neglected and worn, negatively affecting its curb appeal and value.
At the same time, if you have any brick or stone exterior walls that might have built up a layer of dirt and grime over the years, consider pressure washing them to give them a refreshed look. This method of cleaning can be especially effective for removing stubborn stains that might otherwise be impossible to get rid of.
Basic Maintenance
Apart from making improvements and upgrades to your home, it is also important to go back to the basics and ensure that you perform essential maintenance tasks. Some common home maintenance tasks that you should undertake to improve your home’s curb appeal include:
- Cleaning Out Gutters: Garters can often become clog with leaves and other debris that might be blown into them, with garters that are located near trees being the most susceptible to clogging. Cleaning them out regularly can help to prevent overflowing or pooling water, which can cause visible damage to your roof and siding.
- Repairing Driveway and Walkways: Over time, wear and tear can cause cracks to appear in your home’s driveways and walkways. These can be visually unappealing to a potential buyer who is viewing your property for the first time. Thus, it can be a good idea to repair any such cracks before attempting to sell your property.
- Repairing Exterior Damage: If your home is showing any signs of exterior damage, you should also repair them to make your home look less worn. Some common types of exterior damage that you might encounter include cracked siding, missing or damaged roof shingles, and rotting window or door frames.
Adding Outdoor Decorations
Adding a few tasteful outdoor decorations can be the final touch that helps to increase your home’s curb appeal to a maximum.
Decorations such as wind chimes, planters and wreaths are typically not too costly but can enable you to showcase your personality and design preferences in an elegant manner.
Selling a House in Pittsburgh
If you are looking to sell a house in Pittsburgh but don’t want to deal with the hassle of having to prepare your home for sale, or if you simply don’t want to incur hefty agent fees on your sale, consider selling your home to HomeBuyers of Pittsburgh instead! We are a professional home buyer, meaning that we specialize in buying and selling homes and therefore are able to pay you the highest prices on the market.
Plus, we also make full cash offers on the homes that we buy, meaning that unlike with private buyers, you won’t need to worry about a sale falling through due to financing issues or deal with lengthy mortgage approval processes. This allows for a faster and more streamlined transaction process, further saving you time and effort.
Simply provide us with your contact details and our team will be in touch to schedule an obligation-free home evaluation!
