The Quick Guide To Boosting Your Home's Curb Appeal

If you’re considering listing your house on the market, you may need to make some minor improvements first. And one factor you can’t afford to overlook is your home’s curb appeal. Curb appeal refers to how attractive your home appears at first glance.

When a potential buyer first drives up to the home, you want them to be excited to see more because it’s hard to undo a negative first impression. Fortunately, there are simple ways you can improve the curb appeal of your home.

At A Glance: How To Add Curb Appeal To Your Home

The first thing home buyers are going to notice is the exterior of your home. It creates the buyer’s first impression which is almost impossible to undo. Improving the curb appeal of your home is a great way to attract more potential buyers.

For instance, focusing on landscaping can make your home feel fresher and more inviting. Updating the paint and adding flowers to the front porch can help your home stand out from the others on the multiple listing service (MLS).

What Is Curb Appeal And Why Does It Matter?

Curb appeal matters because the exterior of your home is the first thing potential buyers will notice. If a home buyer pulls up and sees chipped paint, holes in the window screens, and overgrown grass in the yard, they’ll be less likely to request a showing.

And even if the interior is nice, it’s hard to get excited about a house with no curb appeal. And the opposite is true as well – if the outside of your home creates a positive first impression, buyers may be willing to overlook minor flaws on the inside.

Curb appeal can even impact online listings and virtual tours which is crucial at a time when the majority of home buyers do their real estate shopping online. Improving the look of your home can increase the value and reduce the time spent on the market.

5 Game-Changing Curb Appeal Ideas

When potential buyers visit your home they’re looking for two things – first, they want to see if the home feels inviting when they pull up. Is this a place they would feel proud to invite their friends and family members to visit?

Next, they’re looking to see if the interior of the house matches the exterior. When you can “wow” prospective buyers on both fronts, you increase your likelihood of receiving an offer.

Projects To Target The Exterior Of Your Home

Let’s look at some exterior upgrades you can make to improve your home’s curb appeal.

Entryway Upgrades

Here’s a quick exercise you can do – walk up to your house and look at the porch and front door from the perspective of a potential buyer. How would you feel if you were visiting this home for the first time?

Fortunately, there are plenty of easy and inexpensive ways to upgrade your entryway. Start by giving your front door a fresh coat of paint and accessorize it with a wreath and doormat.

And don’t overlook your house number and door hardware – these little details can make all the difference. Swapping out your street numbers, doorknob and door knocker can make a big impact. 

Landscaping Ideas

Landscaping is one of the best ways to improve your home’s curb appeal. A home with good landscaping can improve the value of your home between 1% – 5%. Stay on top of mowing your yard and add some colorful flower boxes.

Add new mulch and make sure any trees and bushes are trimmed and look nice. If your trees aren’t looking great, consider using an arborist who can make recommendations on how to keep them healthy.

However, be careful not to overdo it on the landscaping either because some buyers won’t want something too high maintenance. Just make sure your outdoor space adds to the appearance of your home.

Other Home Exterior Improvements

Don’t forget about functional improvements that can boost curb appeal even if they don’t necessarily improve the aesthetics. For instance, you’ll want to clean out your gutters and repair them if they’re sagging or detaching from the house.

Consider adding new paint or hardware to your garage doors. And be sure to fix any loose or broken shingles so home buyers aren’t worried about eventually having to replace the roof.

And don’t forget about the driveway and walkways leading up to the house. Use a pressure washer to clean off any dirt and grime that’s built up and replace any pavers or steppingstones that are loose or broken.

Above all else, you want the house to look well-maintained and move-in ready. If your house looks like a giant home improvement project, that’s going to turn many prospective buyers away.

Let Your Interior Lift Your Home's Curb Appeal

If a potential buyer has a positive first impression of the outside of your home, you want that to continue once they step inside. Here are some simple ways to improve the interior of your home.

Light Fixtures

If your light fixtures look old or dated, updating them can really improve the look of your home. Spend some time researching the latest lighting trends so you’ll know what potential buyers are looking for.

For instance, you can consider adding smart lighting which is energy efficient and customizable. You can also add statement lighting pieces throughout your house, like a new chandelier in the dining room.

And don’t forget about the lamps you’re using throughout the house. Try adding new shades to your lamps or spray painting the base to make them look more modern.

New Paint

A fresh paint job will go a long way to improve the interior of your home. Every year, paint companies and interior designers predict the colors that will affect housing trends the most in the coming year.

For instance, neutral colors, earth tones and soothing blues are all popular trends in 2023. If you don’t want to paint the whole interior of your home, you could update one or two rooms, like the kitchen and main entryway. 

FAQs For Adding Curb Appeal

If you have additional questions about how to improve the curb appeal of your home, the following frequently asked questions might help.

What is meant by curb appeal?

Curb appeal refers to the overall attractiveness of a house – it’s how initially appealing a house is to a prospective buyer. The term is frequently used by real estate agents when evaluating or attempting to sell a home. If you want to sell your home quickly, one of the best ways to do it is by improving the curb appeal.

What is the cheapest way to increase curb appeal?

There are many inexpensive ways to improve a home’s curb appeal. For instance, you could paint the front door, pressure wash the walkways and replace outdated house numbers. All of these improvements cost less than $100 and really improve the look of the house.

How can I improve my curb appeal?

To improve the curb appeal of your home, start by improving the entryway, like the door, porch and hardware. Spend some time sprucing up the landscaping by adding flower boxes, mowing the yard and adding new mulch.

The Bottom Line: Boost Curb Appeal For A Better First Impression Of Your Home

Boosting the curb appeal of your home is a great investment, and there are many inexpensive ways to make improvements. If you’re ready to sell your home and want more personalized recommendations, you can connect with an agent from Rocket Homes℠.