The curb appeal of a home refers to the value of its exterior. If a home has curb appeal, that means it is attractive to the eye and inspires confidence. Great curb appeal helps sell a home faster and for more money because of the positive affect it has on buyers.
Unfortunately, a lot of homeowners overlook their home’s curb appeal when putting it on the market. This is a huge mistake. Not putting effort into making sure your home’s exterior is appealing to buyer’s can cost you the sale and drive down the perceived value of your home.
Keep reading to find out the reasons why curb appeal is an important factor in selling your home:
- It’s the first thing buyers see
Your home’s curb appeal is the first thing buyers see when they drive up to the property. Buyers immediately start assessing the exterior and landscaping, forming a knee-jerk first impression. This initial reaction is very powerful. It instantly sets the tone of the tour and will have an effect on how buyers perceive the rest of the property. If their first impression is a negative one, then the rest of the home will suffer for it.
- It reflects the maintenance of the home
The state of a home’s exterior usually matches the interior. If the grass is long or patchy, the paint on the house is faded or peeling, and there are cracks in the driveway, then buyers are going to be very wary of what other kinds of maintenance issues could be awaiting them inside and in places that they can’t see. These issues instantly translate to dollar signs and stress for home buyers, so it’s likely they will move on to the competition to avoid them both.
- Bad curb appeal can be a deal breaker for some buyers
There are many buyers who won’t even bother going inside to see the rest of the home if they aren’t impressed with the curb appeal. If the exterior is unimpressive, buyers won’t be intrigued to see what lies beyond it. Remember that buyers will see all the houses around it, too, as they drive through the neighborhood and even as they are walking up to it. There will be direct comparisons all around, so if yours doesn’t stand out in a positive way, it could greatly hinder a sale.
- It helps your home stand out from the competition
Bland or bad curb appeal makes a home forgettable. If yours looks great with a beautiful green lawn, colorful landscaping, and a freshly painted exterior, it’s going to stand out from all of the other listings that aren’t putting as much effort into it.
- It increases the perceived value of the home
Small details, like dead patches of grass or old gutters, reduce the perceived value of a property just as much as larger details. Buyers look at everything as they are walking up to the front door, so if the curb appeal has any issues, they are going to notice them. Any problems will register in a buyer’s mind as reducing the value of the home.
Which do you think seems more valuable to a buyer: a home that has clearly been well taken care of over the years or one that is littered with maintenance issues?
