Creating Curb Appeal to Help Sell Your Home

by Brandon Cornett

Curb appeal. You've heard the phrase mentioned on real estate TV shows, and you have a pretty good idea what it means. But you're not sure how to create it. If this describes you, you've come to the right place.

Our guide to creating curb appeal will help you bring out the most in your home's exterior, in order to get the home sold fast! Let's get started with a basic definition and then build from there:

A Simple Definition of Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is more than just a buzzword used by real estate professionals. It's a mindset that has a lot to do with whether or not somebody will buy your home. When a potential buyers pulls up in front of your house, curb appeal is the first impression they get from the exterior. It's what they see from the curb, hence the term.

Creating curb appeal involves many things. It is an overall impression created by many individual elements. These ingredients include the quality of your landscaping; the entry area of your home; the shutters and doors; and the general condition of your home's exterior (structure, paint, etc.).

Getting inside the mind of a potential buyer is the key to creating curb appeal properly. Think back to when you were shopping for a home (the one you're now selling). When you pulled up in front of a house, you probably tried to imagine living there — coming home to it every day after work, inviting guests over for a visit, etc.

That is exactly what buyers are going to do when they pull up to the curb in front of your house. They will envision themselves living in the home. Will it bring them joy to come home to it each day? Or has it given them a bad first impression, right off the bat? Curb appeal can make the difference between these two attitudes, and that's why you must work hard to create it.

Tips for Creating Appeal

Go outside and take a look at your house from the street. Bring a notepad with you, because you're going to be taking some notes about your home's curb appeal (or the lack of it). Try to distance yourself by pretending you're a potential buyer, not the owner. In your notepad, make some notes on what needs to be done. Focus on the following points.

What is the overall condition of your lawn? It should be healthy and green, depending on the season and location. Think of the lawn as the canvas for creating curb appeal art. If it's in bad shape, nothing else on the canvas matters. If the lawn needs work, put it at the top of your list. Improving a lawn can take weeks, so it should be the first thing you start with.
Does your yard need a little punch of color to brighten things up? Try planting some fresh flowers in key areas — beneath the windows, along the front walk, etc. Healthy shrubs can also brighten up your lawn, and you can usually get them for pretty cheap at your local garden center.
Twice a year I replace the mulch in my plant beds, and I'm always surprised at what a big difference it makes. Mulch gets dried up and sun-bleached over time. Replacing it can be a quick and easy way to improve your yard. When creating curb appeal, mulch is your friend!
What condition is the exterior paint in? Does it look new, or is it faded and chipped? If necessary, put painting on your "to do" list. It doesn't cost much to paint the outside of a house (especially if you do it yourself), but it goes a long way toward improving curb appeal and giving a good first impression.
When you examine the paint, pay close attention to the doors, shutters and the trim areas around them. These areas really stand out (for better or worse), so they need to be in tip-top shape. If they're dirty but otherwise in good shape, you might be able to simply hose them off. But if they need to be painted, be sure to put it on your list.

These are not the only things to focus on when creating curb appeal for your home. But they are some of the most important. When making your "to do" list, keep your mind open to other possibilities.

Conclusion and Going Forward

Let's revisit some of the key points in this article. Creating good curb appeal is an important step toward selling your home. This is especially important in the modern economy, because there are fewer buyers. You want to give people a good first impression of your home so they come in to see the rest. The last thing you want is for buyers to pull up in front, take one look at the place, and then leave. Curb appeal can help prevent this.

About the Author: Brandon Cornett publishes a number of educational websites for consumers. He is the creator of this real estate information website as well as the Home Buying Institute.