If you’re trying to sell your home, curb appeal is a huge factor. Your home needs to look good, or it might not sell. The better your home looks from the outside, the more interested potential buyers will be.
But your home’s external appearance can also make a big difference in how much buyers are willing to pay. A nicer exterior could net you a better appraisal, and it could also increase the value of your home. That could mean thousands – or tens of thousands – of dollars in cash when it’s sold.
Here are 5 exterior projects you can undertake to increase your home’s value and attract potential buyers before they even step inside.
1. Touch Up Your Exterior Paint
Over time, weather, regular wear and tear, and the elements can wreak havoc on your home’s paint job. Fading, flaking, and bare spots can all appear – and they can turn buyers away from your home. If your home looks like it’s seen better days, it won’t be as valuable.
However, if you touch up your home’s exterior with a fresh coat of paint, all of this can change.
You can repaint your whole house. But, if you want a cheaper and equally cost effective option, you can simply touch up any problem spots. Use paint to touch up flaking and chipping, and don’t forget to touch up around the front door and any trim. Your whole home will look new once again.
2. Replace Your Garage Door
Your garage door is one of the most visible aspects of your home. And while a working garage door is usually good enough for any homeowner, keeping your old garage door could cost you when you’re trying to sell.
A new garage door is proven to increase a home’s curb appeal. It also offers a great financial benefit. Although it costs approximately $3,600 to install a new garage door, homeowners get almost 98 percent of that money back when they sell their homes.
Installing a new garage door is an upgrade that’ll pay for itself! And when prospective buyers arrive to check out your home, they’ll instantly notice this appealing feature.
3. Replace Your Front Door
Your front door, like your garage door, is one of the visible pieces of your home’s exterior. And it’s also the one piece of your house that potential buyers will get up close to as they visit for a tour. That’s why it’s so important to add to your home’s appeal with an upgraded front door.
Replacing an outdated or boring front door with a new one can cost you about $1,800 – but you’ll get as much as 75 percent of that money back when you sell your home.
An attractive, impressive entryway makes a great first impression on potential buyers. And if your front door features state-of-the-art technology, new hardware, or even a few interesting window panels, it could increase the whole home’s value and appeal.
4. Add Outdoor Lighting
Did you know adding lighting to your home’s outdoor spaces could really attract potential buyers? It might seem like a small upgrade to make, but it could really pay off.
Outdoor lighting is attractive – you can add string lights, attractive light fixtures, or even landscaped lighting along walkways. And that can up your home’s curb appeal with a warm, inviting ambiance. On top of that, some lighting, like motion lights, can deter criminals.
Adding outdoor lighting can cost as much as $5,000. However, when that outdoor lighting nets you a buyer, you’ll see about a 50 percent return on your investment.
5. Invest in Landscaping
While your home is the focal point for any potential buyers, your yard is also a feature you can’t forget about. An unkempt, dead, or cluttered yard can turn buyers away and give your home an unappealing appearance.
Landscape your yard to make it look inviting, lush, and healthy. Doing so increases the odds you’ll sell your home – and you can get as much as 83 percent of the money you spend back when your home does sell.
What kinds of landscaping make a yard more appealing? Flagstone walkways, stone planters, mulching, and planting shrubs, flowers, or trees can all increase your overall home value and appearance. Spraying, trimming, and pruning plants is also important. And if you have any dead or unappealing plants, make sure to have them removed.
Find Exterior Remodeling Professionals Online
Selling your home is a big undertaking. And you’ll need to make your home look as appealing and welcoming as possible. But that doesn’t mean you have to revamp the entire exterior of your home.
Instead, it’s important to be strategic about what you’re upgrading or updating. Revamp what your home needs most, or what potential buyers will most enjoy. Small changes, like fresh paint touch ups or changing the plants in your yard could net you more money and more interest.
And if you need help with any home projects, you can consult a professional. There are plenty of pros who can paint, landscape, or even perform home repairs and installations. To find the best in your area, search online. Search for specific services or projects, and make sure to compare different contractors or professionals to ensure you choose the best available.
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