Creating Curb Appeal to Sell Your Central Virginia Home

When your home catches a buyer’s eye, they might not have a clue what it was that grabbed their attention in the first place. That’s the elusive nature of curb appeal.

Curb appeal is the positive first impression that makes a home buyer click on your listing instead of moving on to the next. It’s a wow factor that motivates passersby to park their cars and get out so they can take a closer look.

Our real estate agents have learned from experience that curb appeal is crucial when you want to sell your home. Fortunately, you can enhance your home's first impression with cleaning, painting, maintenance, and basic enhancements. Here are 7 ideas to get you started.

1. Clean or Paint Your Exterior
   If your exterior paint appears faded, first try a power wash. It costs far less than repainting. Exterior paint brightens up once you've removed the film left by years of dirt build-up. Also, inspect rails, window sills, shutters, and other wooden trim for signs of paint peeling that might suggest a repaint is unavoidable.
   
   
2. Clean & Fix Your Driveway / Walkway
   A clean and smooth walkway and driveway give your property a welcome-home look. Patch all cracks, gouges, and holes. Clean or resurface oil spots and discolored areas. Your hard work will help to beautify your yard and reduce liability hazards.
   
   
3. Revamp Your Roof
   If your roof is faded or worn, a little roof TLC can give your home a curb appeal upgrade. Roofs deteriorate due to age. Some have undetected storm damage, missing nails, and faded or broken shingles or tiles. If your roof is visible from the street, a potential buyer won’t miss these things.
   
   
4. Repair Your Windows
   Make sure your windows and seals are in good condition. Replace cracked panes, worn seals, and insulated glass windows with condensation between the panes. P.S. Wash your windows!
   
   
5. Clean Out Your Gutters
   Every season, new layers of leaves, twigs, and dirt find their way into your gutters. If you don’t clean out the debris, it can be noticeable to a buyer viewing your home. A build up of debris can also make your gutters sag.
   
   
6. Declutter Your Yard
   Yes, decluttering is a trendy term for a junky old problem. Whatever you choose to call it, the process is the same. Look at your home with a critical eye. Get rid of the unnecessary stuff. Tidy up the rest. Put away your water hose, wheelbarrow, tools, and toys so they're not just hanging out in the yard. Tidy up your porch and park your cars in the garage. Consider getting an off-premises storage unit for items you rarely use but still want to keep.
   
   
7. Refresh Your Landscaping
   When you’re trying to sell your home, updated landscaping can bring buyers to your door. You don’t have to go for the fantasy garden you always wanted. Make it clean, neat, and simple.

• Keep your lawn mowed.
• Edge it for a neat manicured look.
• Re-seed or add sod to bald patches.
• Remove dead leaves and dying plants.
• Create accent areas of flowering or green plants.
• Add walkway lights for nighttime visibility, beauty, and safety.

When you need advice from a real estate professional, contact our team at Napier Realtors ERA.Save