When you are in the process of selling your home, there is one phrase you will read over and over when you consult advice guides: curb appeal.
What Is ‘Curb Appeal’?
Curb appeal is a phrase that has been coined to describe the way that your house looks from the outside; from the curb, in essence. If first impressions are important, then getting curb appeal right is essential-- this is the first glimpse that potential buyers will have of your property, so you have to ensure that it’s impressive.
What Constitutes ‘Good’ Curb Appeal?
The general consensus suggests that curb appeal covers aspects of the front of your home such as:
- The way the driveway looks; how even it is; whether there are any weeds growing between paving slabs, and so on and so forth.
- The way your house exterior itself looks; the brickwork and siding; the appearance of the windows.
- The front yard -- if applicable; obviously this would not apply to condos -- and how well-maintained and landscaped it is.
- The overall impression of how good a house looks at first sight; does it appear to be well-maintained or is it rundown? Does it want you to peer inside for a closer look or walk in the opposite direction?
How Important Is Curb Appeal?
When you’re selling your home, you will have no end of expenses that you have to find the funds for. Giving the exterior of your home a makeover is yet another demand on your funds. There are so many improvements you may have to make, particularly if you have largely neglected the exterior of your house for years. You might need a professional landscaper for the garden; the likes of Dependable Home Services to improve the siding; and a thorough professional jet wash to bring everything up to scratch. As good as these improvements look, are they really that important?
The truth is, it depends. For some potential buyers, curb appeal will be very important, and they will be deterred from buying a house if the curb appeal is not to their liking. Other buyers won’t particularly care, and are more interested in the internal layout.
Should You Focus On Curb Appeal?
This question can only be answered if you consider how much of a risk you are willing to take.
If you want to sell your home quickly, then you’re going to need your property to appeal to as many buyers as possible. That means you might need to make a few investments to help improve the exterior of your home.
If you have got time to wait, however, then you can leave aside curb appeal if your funds won’t stretch to such measures. Make the improvements you can within budget, then just hope the right buyer comes along. You might be in for a long wait, but if you’re not in a hurry to move, that’s time you can afford.
Hopefully, the above has helped shed some light on this often-confusing issue, and you’re able to make the right decision for your home. Good luck with selling your property!
Comments