Curb Appeal Tips and Tricks

BY LEE NELSON

Curb appeal in residential housing can account for up to seven percent of a home’s value when sold, according to a 2020 joint study by University of Alabama and The University of Texas at Arlington. The median house in the study sample was purchased for $299,000. Based on curb appeal premiums such as trimmed shrubs, well-mowed lawns, and colorful flowers, the increase of the home value would be between $20,390 and $24,219.

What is Curb Appeal and Why is it Important?

Curb appeal is that front yard shot that is the first impression people see,” said Eric Cording, who is in charge of sales and design work for his family’s business, CLC Landscape Design in Ringwood.

He also earned his real estate license in 2020 and works out of the Terrie O’Connor Realtors ® office in Kinnelon. “It includes a blend of colors in the plantings that makes photos pop and that complement the home. It’s instant gratification,” said Cording.

Cording has designed and witnessed complete transformations of many homes’ curb appeal. His company recently worked on a whole renovation which included changing the house color to royal blue.

It was so sharp-looking. For this particular homeowner, we redid her lawn and plants and spruced up the shutters, doors, and mailbox,” said Cording. “The changes were tremendous. I wanted to implement beautiful work on their property but raise the value, too.

According to Cording, when people scroll websites to look at homes for sale, the first photo they usually see is the outside.

Buyers want to make sure a property has been well maintained both inside and outside, said Linda McLaughlin, Realtor ® at Berkshire Hathaway Fox and Roach Realtors ® in Marlton.

Curb appeal says a lot about the current owners,” said McLaughlin. As an Accredited Staging Professional®, McLaughlin offers sellers who list their home with her, receive staging services, including suggestions for the outside.

“You want everything to look neat and tidy,” said McLaughlin. Even putting down black mulch can be appealing and can cover up imperfections.

Sellers should make sure gutters are clean, along with everything else prospective buyers can see. A good thing to tell clients is to go across the street and turn around to look at their home. If they can see missing roof shingles or a gutter hanging, suggest they get them repaired, according to McLaughlin.

Make it Enticing, Simple and Clean

We all make judgments on first reaction,” said Nancy Kowalik, broker/owner of Nancy Kowalik Real Estate Group. “It’s a feeling homebuyers get when they see a home or walk inside it. They buy with their eyes and emotions.

If you can’t find the sidewalk because the weeds are so overgrown and cobwebs on the porch, buyers make that mental note and some never walk inside.

When a buyer walks through the front door and you feel that comfort and warmth, that first impression is inviting,” said Kowalik. “But you first have to entice them through the front porch.

Kowalik suggests keeping your a porch simple with a rocker and some big red begonia plants that draw your eye and welcome you. If someone is coming to see your home, think about it as if you were having a wedding or graduation party.

If you do have outdoor chairs and a table and umbrella, put them out to make it picturesque. Punctuate how welcoming it all can be if they lived there.

Here are these design and Realtor® experts’ other best tips for curb appeal to help clients get the most bang for their buck:

Many people never go through their front door because they park the car in the garage. So, it’s important to look at everything including your doorknobs, kick plate, lights, and windows in the front to see they are free from rust and dirt, said McLaughlin. “A new front door can be very expensive. Sometimes, you can paint it, but a painted front door might not fit the neighborhood.”

It’s your job as a Realtor® to be honest with your clients about their curb appeal, said Kowalik. “It’s a hard conversation, but make sure it’s not a personal indictment. Tell them that this is what the market is looking for, and this is what you can bring to your home.”

A good green lawn is a plus, said Cording, along with curved flower beds.

A fresh coat of paint can be everything, said McLaughlin. Those are the big deal items that not everyone will do or want to do. Just painting doors and shutters can make it look so much inviting. “Regardless of price point, the house needs to look fresh and well kept on the outside.”

Set the tone with your mailbox, said Cording. Make it a fun destination with plantings and color.

Power washing can help freshen up siding, brick, driveways, and sidewalks. It doesn’t cost much to rent a power washer, and they really aren’t that expensive to buy, said Kowalik.

Don’t forget the nighttime ambiance. “When you show a house and there is an interested buyer, they will inevitably drive by at night,” said McLaughlin. It’s all about lighting. So make sure your clients have fresh bulbs over the garage and on the front porch. Solar lights are very inexpensive to purchase to line a walkway.

If you have room, stage your front stoop or porch with a bench or chair with a pillow on it, said McLaughlin. Let them see themselves relaxing there. Keep any holiday ornaments to a minimum and put out some color in a hanging plant or flowerpot.