Home Improvements that Help You Sell Your Home

If you need to sell your home and move, knowing what can help you get the price you need on the sale of your home is important.  Summer is the main home buying and selling season, and a big part of the return on your investment in your home is built on the curb appeal.  If the exterior of your home lacks curb appeal, potential buyers may never make it inside your home nor consider buying it. 

So, what is curb appeal and how do you create it for your home? 

Curb appeal is the attractiveness of a property and its surroundings when viewed from the street.  Factors that help form curb appeal include landscaping, the front entrance, and the condition of the exterior of a home.  To get a better idea of your home’s curb appeal to buyers, go to the base of your drive, or across the road and view your home.  Try to look at your home as though you never saw it before.  Note whether it looks fresh and inviting, is in good repair and whether the overall design is attractive.  Many realtors recommend home sellers avoid drastic color changes, leaning more toward natural color choices.  This can make it easier for buyers to picture their own color scheme on the home. Figure out which improvements you can make without losing your mind or the return on the property, and which things must be done to keep the home in good repair.

9 simple, inexpensive, or more comprehensive things you can do to increase curb appeal, and possibly the sales price, of your home.

  1. Clean. Clean. Clean.  Buyers see a dirty home as an unmaintained home.  Not bothering to clean suggests you may not bother to handle home maintenance either.  Scrub your home from top to bottom, inside and out.  If children live in the home, try to set up one area where toys can be spread out, in order to keep the other rooms staged.  Consider removing extra furniture and bins to a storage facility until the move.  The less crowded a room appears, the larger it looks to potential buyers.
  • Repair or replace a leaking roof.  This is the type of repair that it makes sense to turn over to your professional at All Pro Xteriors Inc.  The exterior inspection is free of charge and is contact free and will inform you of the extent of work required to replace the old roof.  The work can be done in a matter of days, and you can get your home on the market with a roof that meets lender and inspector criteria.
  • Repair or replace damaged gutters, soffits and fascia boards.  This is one of those jobs that seems easy until you try it.  The professionals at All Pro Xteriors can make it easy.  Call them at (952) 486-784 or visit AllProXteriorsInc.com to set up your free exterior home inspection contact free.
  • Paint the trim on your home.  Most house trim, if faded can be updated with a fresh coat of paint carefully applied.  Here is a good place to look at your talents with an unbiased eye.  If you know you can’t paint within the lines, it might be better to job this task out.
  • Repair your driveway and walkways.  Take a good look. If there are cracks and uneven blocks, prioritize repairs of these.  It will reduce the risk of injury on your property, and is usually less expensive than other repairs.  Problems in the walkways, drive and railings is a big red flag to prospective buyers that imply a neglected home.  When you figure out which repairs to complete, weigh the cost to repair walkways against the cost of a buyer walking away from buying your home.
  1. Lawncare.  Reseeding the lawn may cost you, but a lush lawn could yield a big return on investment.  Trim shrubs that are overgrowing walkways or entryways.

Little steps that spruce up curb appeal.  Many of the steps we have suggested will add to your home’s curb appeal in a big way, but here are some DIY items you can take care of that can make your home look inviting.

  • Spruce up your entryway.  Paint your front door a welcoming color.  A bright or contrasting color is sometimes just the pick me up your entryway needs.  Make sure you look at the new color in context with the rest of your home.  A red door looks great on a gray or blue home, but probable not great on a dark red sided home.
  • Update outdoor lighting.  Please just make sure you turn off the power to the fixture before making this changeover.  If you are installing a motion light, buyers will value not only the aesthetics of this, but the safety you are adding.
  • Plant a garden or border with native perennials. I am always amazed when I drive past a house with pots on the steps leading to the front door.  It is such a simple but effective way to make the home more welcoming. Group pots on stairs or patios to flank, but not block entryways.

Moving can be an exciting, and stressful time.  We hope your home sale and the move  goes smoothly.  And remember to contact All Pro Xteriors Inc. to schedule your free exterior home inspection and make sure your home is market ready.