If you have lost track whether it’s a buyer’s or a seller’s market and you simply want to sell your house, fast, for whatever reason, curb appeal matters. Yes, your location, style and interior will obviously count more than the paint job on your palisades, but your curb appeal or lack thereof will set the tone for your open house.
Do a drive by/Pothole patrol.
The obvious first step to fixing your home’s curb appeal is to go outside and look at your home from the sidewalk/road. Pay attention to every part of it. Look at the place where the road connects with your driveway. This is where you might have to do some work even if it feels unfair. Potholes and cracked road surfaces are a problem and an eye sore. If you have a local municipality who are reliable, you should report the problem to them immediately and follow up until the road is repaired. Otherwise it is time to take matters into your own hands. Get a professional contractor to come and fill in the potholes in front of your driveway or even just fill it up with fine gravel yourself.
Important: Check your driveway surface.
If you have a paved driveway, make sure the pavers are level, even coloured and well secured. If you have oil stains or other marks, consider painting your driveway. This instantly revamps your pavement and as long as you pick a neutral colour (Black, Russet Brown or Charcoal) it will look polished and well maintained. Get professional help here.
Waste management
The next step is to deal with your rubbish. Municipal rubbish bins are ugly. Even more so if your bin is faded, cracked or wonky. If this is the case, apply to your local municipality for a new one, or simply pop down to a shop that specializes in DIY and renovations. You can buy these bins there.
Let it grow! (and cut the dead wood)
You don’t have to cultivate a whole curb side garden, but having some greenery will soften your home and improve your curb appeal. If you have a grass sidewalk in front of your home, make sure its weed-free and neatly moved. If your sidewalk is concrete, paved or some other artificial surface, break it’s harsh lines by investing in two or more planters that you place strategically to hide or highlight what needs to be hidden or highlighted. Waterwise plants like ornamental grasses work well and require minimal input from you. Whatever you do, ensure that there are no dead or overgrown plants in front of your house. Having nothing is better than a dead plant. Need gardening help? Find it here.
Good fences…
Next up, take a good hard look at your boundary fence. Does it need a coat of paint, does it need repairs, is your electric fencing in good working order, does your gate, gate motor and pedestrian gates work properly? If you need to get a professional to sort this out, do it ASAP! Find trusted and vetted fencing suppliers here.
Clean up the neighbourhood.
Now that you have done wat you can to your own property its time to branch out. Location sells homes, and it won’t do for your own home to be appealing while your neighbours look like the Adam’s family. While you are fixing potholes and mowing sidewalks, extend your work to the houses next to and across form you. Pick up any trash that’s blowing around the street, and even offer to have your neighbours’ fences or walls repaired or painted. By doing this you can answer honestly when the prospective new owners ask if you know your neighbours.
“Yes, we spoke just last week!” sounds better than “No idea who lives there…”
For some (Curb) Appealing motivation, have at look at these websites.
