You do not get a second chance to make a first impression. This is a concept that many homeowners trying to sell their homes know, but first-time real estate investors trying to sell or rent real estate do not understand. The curb appeal is the first impression of the house. Here, you, as an investor or seller, hope that those who drive by will view it as their future home. Therefore, you should spend some time and energy to make the house’s exterior attractive to potential buyers or renters.
One of the first items prospects will notice paint crumbling and bland or tired and faded colors on the outside. Vinyl siding is often inviting as it is easy to clean and bring to life. It also has a reasonably low cost of maintenance, which often appeals to both buyers and tenants. However, some will argue that siding detracts from the home’s potential personality. Regardless, clean and sharp varnish or siding makes a much better impression than the apparent state of deterioration.
Remember, these first impressions are essential. If the exterior is unimpressive, prospective buyers will not likely discover a diamond inside your home. Another thing you can do to add some curb appeal is to plant flowers and plants that are easy to care for around your home. You don’t want to invest in plants that need constant care, nor do you want to seriously invest in plants that get out of hand and look bulky. At least you don’t want to plant them around the outside of your house facing the road. However, shrubs and vines do well in many cases along the fences surrounding your property or as a privacy line between your property and neighboring properties.
Suppose you live in an area that is not conducive to green grass. In this case, you might think about a hybrid species that can thrive with less water or choose a beautiful landscape that does not rely on large open grasses, such as xeriscaping. The purpose of this is to make the house attractive from the outside so prospects will walk into the home with an optimistic outlook.
Another thing to keep in mind when making improvements is cleaning the sidewalks and driveway if it is concrete. It’s incredible what a high-pressure washer can do to your walkways, driveway, and/or porch. But don’t stop there. Take the time to make sure the doors and windows are clean too. These little things are usually the most impressive. If you take proper care of the exterior of your home and keep it nice and shiny, chances are (in the buyer’s opinion) that you have taken care of the interior of your home as much as they are probably considering right now.
Compared to ignoring the valuable real estate between the front door and the curb, spending more time to ensure that the exterior of the house is attractive to buyers can translate into higher and faster offers. Don’t ignore this powerful suggestion. You should be more successful in your efforts to sell your house or investment property if these simple tips are followed.
If you would like to find out the value of your investment property, talk to one of our management experts by calling (713) 489-7653.