As you probably know first impressions are everything! Not only is this true when you first meet someone for the first time but it is also true when your home is up for sale making its first impression on potential buyers. As your potential buyers drive by your curb appeal will aid them in making the decision of whether or not want they would like to go further with your house and go inside. So no matter how big or how small your remodeling budget is, always begin your remodel on the exterior of your home and work your way to the interior. No matter how flashy your interior is, if the exterior doesn't say "love me" you've already lost the potential buyer. 

Curb appeal is a fancy way of describing how appealing your house is from the street to potential buyers. It may not seem that important to you when you've lived there for years but maximizing your curb appeal is a great way to then maximize your home's appraising value as well as just being an overall great way to increase the chance of your home selling. Curb appeal can be a difficult chore to tackle depending on how much work needs to be done, but here are a few tips to help get you started on the process. 

  1. Clean up debris- Debris out in the yard could be anything from leaves that have fallen off of the trees to a bunch of junk you've been telling yourself you're going to get rid of. Instead of telling yourself that you want to get rid of it and just get rid of it already. Another way to prevent the build up of "debris" in your front yard is to handle most of your messy projects in the back yard because there they will not effect a potential buyers first impression.
  2. Trim the hedges- Shrubs, bushes, and trees that are over grown tend to not be very appealing. Take the time to trim down your landscaping as well as weed the flower beds. If needed you can even plant a few new things too. This will make landscaping more appealing to the eye.
  3. Fresh paint- It may not seem like they would but potential buyers will notice things like the color of the front door quickly or if the paint is chipping. Take time to repaint the front door if its worn or even if its just not the right color that fits with the house. While you're at it, find a fresh color for your shutters as well that will help make your house stand out. 
  4.  Lighting- Replacing and updating the lighting can make a big difference to the way your house is being viewed. Choose something that properly fills the space but follows the theme you're creating. 
  5. The front yard as a whole- Fixing up your cement driveway, replacing your mailbox, even doing a small chore like cleaning the window will increase the interest of your potential buyers as they view the house.