3 Ways to Improve the Exterior of your Home Before Listing for Sale

by The Greenest Dollar

home exterior for saleSo, you are finally ready to list your home for sale, and now you only have one thing on your mind: Selling your home as quickly as possible. While your realtor is sure to offer a great amount of assistance, it is your responsibility to present your property in the best way possible.

It is common for sellers to spend hours upon hours upgrading the interior of the home. However, are you neglecting the exterior of your home in the process? Remember, nobody will want to come inside unless the outside is pleasant and inviting.

Here are three ways to improve the exterior of your home before putting it on the market:

1. Clean Up the Landscaping
Are there any overgrown bushes, weeds, or trees? Is anything taking away from the overall visual appeal of your property? If so, this is something you should focus on as soon as possible.

Remember, more is often less when it comes to attractive landscaping. Don’t be afraid to cut back as a means of showing off what is truly great about your property.

2. Pressure Wash the Exterior
Regardless of whether you have vinyl siding, bricks, or wood clapboards or shakes covering your home, it is essential that it looks as clean as can be. To ensure that the job gets done right the first time, use a pressure washer. This helps to remove mold, mildew, dirt, and any other type of grime that may have built up over the years.

Don’t have a pressure washer? You can rent one from a local hardware store, such as Home Depot, for approximately $50 per day. This is an investment that is well worth the cost.

3. Stage the Sitting Areas
Do you have a front porch? How about a patio or deck? You should do your best to show potential buyers that your home offers plenty of comfortable outdoor space for entertainment or relaxation. This is something that many people look for when buying a home. When you stage these areas to make them look attractive, you will undoubtedly impress anybody who visits – even before they step foot in the home.

Final Thoughts
Exterior improvements are excellent ways to stage your home for sale, but remember this: You have to stay on top of things if your home does not sell right away. For example, you may remove some weeds from your yard this week, but they could come back within days. Until your home sells, make sure you keep up with the exterior maintenance.

Updating the interior of your home is very important – just be sure you save some time, money, and energy for exterior beautification as well. You will not regret this decision, as it can help increase interest in your property.

What other simple home exterior upgrades can you suggest to help the curb appeal of a house that is up for sale?

{ 2 comments }

JNU July 24, 2012 at 8:11 am

You’re back!

Rachel August 10, 2012 at 7:53 pm

Glad to see you are back and posting! I really enjoy your blog and your perspective. Keep it up! 🙂

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