Do you remember the first time you shopped for or purchased a home? If so, think back to that moment. What did you first notice? Do you remember certain aspects of the home's appearance, or perhaps some unique landscape feature? Was it the bright color of the freshly-painted door or the glossy sheen from the clean windows?
The concept of 'curb appeal' – that is, how your home appears when viewing from the curb – is an important one, especially when selling your home. Below we'll share why.
Give A Strong First Impression
The first impression that your home gives is one that will last. If your paint is fading or chipped, your siding is damaged, your roof is in disrepair or your gutters are hanging loose, what do you expect a potential buyer to think? It's safe to assume that if you can't be bothered to pull the weeds in the garden or rake up the leaves that there may be other maintenance issues lurking.
Remember, your goal is to sell your home as quickly as possible and for the best price. If the place you are moving to next is contingent on the successful sale of your current home, then moving quickly will become even more important. Especially if you are living in a competitive market like Southern California. If your house looks like it's in perfect shape from the outside, potential buyers will want to explore further.
Appeal To The Drive-By Buyers
You may not be aware, but many potential home buyers won't bother connecting with your real estate agent or showing up to your open house events. Where I live in Orange County, many prospective buyers take it upon themselves to conduct their own drive-by before they even think about giving the listing agent a phone call. Some might peer into your backyard or take a quick look around the lot as well. It's critical that your home appear in peak condition at all times during the sales process. If your curb appeal declines, you may end up losing out on a potential sale.
Set Your Home Apart From The Neighbors
Contrast is another reason why focusing on your home's curb appeal is important. Potential home buyers will be comparing your house with others on the same street and across the neighborhood. If your house is the best looking one on the block, it's more likely to sell for a high price than if it's the runt of the litter.
If you are looking to list your Southern California home, our professional real estate team will be happy to share some more curb appeal tips. Give me a call at your convenience – I look forward to connecting with you.