Key Takeaways:

• Curb appeal is an important part of selling your home
• You can improve your home’s curb appeal without a professional
• Contact us to see how improving your home’s curb appeal can help it sell

Despite what the phrase suggests, you don’t actually need to have a curb to improve your home’s “curb appeal.” Curb appeal is the overall exterior allure of your home, and has nothing to do with the concrete edge it’s named after. So, if you’re looking to sell your home in 2023–whether it’s a townhome, condo, or single-family residence–you should be evaluating your home’s curb appeal since it’s the first thing prospective buyers see. If you follow these simple tips and apply them appropriately to your property, you can make a good first impression on local homebuyers before anyone even steps through the front door.

If You Have a Lawn, Manicure It

Manicure may sound like a silly word to use in this instance, but it’s accurate as you’re ultimately tending to your lawn’s cosmetics. Spruce up your lawn before showings by cutting overgrown grass and shrubbery to uniform heights and removing all weeds.. 

Of course, manicuring also includes getting rid of those patches of dried, brown, dead grass. Reseeding for new growth is optimal, but you can use lawn-safe paint to cover brown spots in a pinch if there’s no time to grow new grass. A real, natural look should be your goal as a clean lawn gives the entire property a more elegant appearance.

Tend to Your Garden Beds

Even if you don’t have a lawn and grass to worry about, you may have garden beds that need tending. Mulch fades and decorative rocks can get lost over time. Fill in any bare spots; replace your current mulch with a fresh, brightly colored option; and remove dead plants as needed. 

Even if it’s just a windowsill flowerbed, the extra care and attention can go a long way to sprucing up your home’s curb appeal.

Give Your Door a Pop of Color

The front door is a surprising focal point of your home and can be one of the first things buyers notice. Unless there’s heavy damage to the door, you don’t need to replace it. Simply add a coat or two of paint, using a color that accentuates the scheme of your home. Be mindful of any HOA regulations regarding exterior paint colors as you may have to choose from a specific set of shades.

While you’re painting the door, replace the hardware to match the new color. If your old hardware does match and can be cleaned to look brand new, certainly use it. While you’re replacing the hardware, you might as well swap out any street numbers if you can find a good match.

Upgrade Your Lighting Fixtures

Light fixtures can be a pretty big part of your home’s curb appeal. No matter how many you have, these fixtures should look updated and new. In many cases, you can clean up the ones already installed and maybe even hit them with a can of spray paint. However, it can be necessary to replace them entirely if they’re damaged or beyond repair. 

If you aren’t sure if fixtures need to be repaired, don’t tackle the project alone. We can recommend local experts who can tackle any needed updates.

Install Outdoor Path Lighting

Townhomes, condos, or single-family homes typically come with a walkway leading up to your front door. Even if you have a motion sensor flood light, path lighting can really enhance your space, give it a luxurious look, and even improve safety. Path lighting comes in all shapes and sizes, and, for the most part, is solar-powered. 

Additional to path lighting, you may consider adding uplighting to illuminate a lone tree, a planter you’re quite proud of, or to showcase the exterior facade of your home. Uplighting really adds a touch of class to any exterior, leaning even further into the lavished home look with minimal effort needed.

Add Simple Accents

A home without anything out front to fill the empty space can seem vacant, cold, and dull. Even if you just add potted plants, a welcome mat, or a seasonal wreath, it can go a long way to give a welcoming look and feel. One thing to consider is symmetry. Potted plants look so much better in pairs when they’re symmetrical. 

Try not to crowd your porch or any other area you’re filling in. Just add enough to boost your home’s curb appeal.

Clean It All Up

Everything that can be seen from the road should be scrubbed, swept, wiped down, and cleared out. Gutters, stairs, windows, driveways, porches—try to make things as spotless as possible. A clean-looking home is going to be more attractive to buyers because they’ll know it’s been in good hands all these years. A high level of cleanliness shows you really cared about the space, and will certainly get buyers excited to see the rest of your home.

Put Your New Curb Appeal to Use

If you’re putting in all this work to improve your home’s curb appeal, then it must mean you’re getting ready to sell your home in 2023. Reach out to our team today to start discussing how we can leverage your new curb appeal to build a sales strategy that will attract new homebuyers. Our local sales experts use the latest market data for your neighborhood to ensure you’re getting the best return on your home.

Are you stuck at home and looking to take on a DIY project? If you have an extra room or a small nook that you just don’t know how to use, try tackling a mini home makeover! Here are some out-of-the-box ways to transform surplus flex space into a room that you’ll actually use…and will maybe even appeal to future buyers.

Here’s How to Take Advantage Your Flex Space

A flex space is an area in your home that can be customized and used in a number of different ways. They’re designed to be flexible (hence the name), and their function can be changed depending on the kind of room you need.

Looking for some inspiration to really spruce up your flex space? Here are a few ideas that won’t require much money or time.

Incorporate a home office

Have you recently started working from home? If so, it might be worth setting up your own home office. Even if you don’t have a separate room for your workspace, you can easily create a dedicated office with what you have.

If you really need a place to work, start by moving around some furniture or finding a quieter area in your house that doesn’t get used often. Remember—this is supposed to be an office you’ll want to spend time in, so be sure to add more than just a desk. Some great lighting, storage for supplies, and a comfy couch or task chair can tie the whole workspace together.

Create a home gym

Turning your flex space into a home gym is a practical way to show off its potential as a multi-use space. And if you’ve been slacking off on your workouts recently, having a dedicated active area can help you stay fit without leaving home.

To get started, try adding some mirrors, a wall-mounted weight rack, and exercise equipment that you’ll actually use (like resistance bands, a stability ball, or dumbbells). You can also incorporate a television or child-safe mats to easily turn your workout spot into a media room or play area!

Make the most of smaller spaces

Does your home have a smaller room or nook that doesn’t seem to serve a purpose? You can make the most of these awkward spaces by transforming them into whatever you want—the options really are endless here, so feel free to get creative.

If you aren’t sure where to start, just let your imagination run wild. If you love to read, consider creating a small library or reading nook where you can relax with your favorite book. Want to pick up a new skill? Having a dedicated hobby room makes it easy to spend time doing what you love. You can even design a designated space for your pets or a playroom for your children—it’s all up to you!

Add tons of storage

No matter what you choose to do with your flex area, it’s crucial to have enough storage space. You never know what you might use a particular room for in the future—but closets, shelving, and cabinets are always useful additions.

Even if a room doesn’t have a dedicated closet, you can create stylish storage by adding built-ins or tall bookcases. For a more minimalist look, wall mounted shelves are the way to go. You can even incorporate storage as part of your decor by investing in a trendy ottoman or a set of matching baskets.

Getting Ready to Sell?

If you’re thinking about listing your home and want to maximize the potential of your flex space, we’d be happy to help! While it may be impossible to predict how current events will affect the market, you can still sell quickly and for top dollar—just give us a call for all the details.

The year is winding down fast, and with the upcoming rush of the holidays, it’ll be 2020 before you know it. With a new year comes new trends, and you can expect a number of home design shake-ups both big and small.

Here are the top home features that are sure to be priorities for buyers in 2020!

Separate Laundry Rooms

It might be a little unexpected, but laundry rooms were one of the most highly sought-after home features of the year, with a whopping 91% of buyers saying they’re essential. Many people also prefer the laundry room to be on the ground floor and sectioned off from the rest of the home.

In 2020, you can expect to see buyers continue to gravitate toward homes with designated laundry rooms—try brainstorming ways to bring more focus to yours!

Industrial Designs

The rustic farmhouse motif was certainly popular in 2019, but it doesn’t quite have the staying power of an industrial design. Next year, you’ll continue to see buyer’s seek out interior design elements like artisanal light fixtures, copper and metal hardware, concrete accents, and exposed brick.

Homes that already have these components incorporated will be a major plus—and while it’s a little tough to add brick walls and concrete accents if you don’t have them, there are other simple ways to industrialize your space!

Storage Space

As more and more buyers start moving towards smaller homes, efficient storage solutions become a high priority. In 2020, you can expect buyers to be on the hunt for homes that showcase their storage potential.

Built-in shelves along the wall, storage under the stairs, walk-in pantries—no matter your square footage, every inch counts. If you’re a seller, you can also use this to your advantage, staging your home in a way that emphasizes its efficient use of space. Think: a few extra storage cubes in your laundry room, a new shelving unit on an underused wall, or roll-out cubbies under your bed.

Green Features 

According to a survey from the National Association of Home Builders, green features have shot up to become one of the most sought-after features in a new home. In particular, over half of the survey respondents would invest nearly $10,000 for green features that would save them money, such as ENERGY STAR-rated appliances and windows, improved insulation, and efficient lighting. Other priorities included bettering the air quality in the home with things like dehumidification systems and electronic air cleaners.

If you’re planning to sell next year and have a little extra money to work with, consider making upgrades that’ll appeal to your buyers’ wallet.

Natural Finishes

Next year, we’ll start seeing a move toward more unique homes, and nothing sets your space apart from the rest like natural features, including river rock, reclaimed wood, exposed brick, and steel accents. These elements don’t necessarily have to come with the home even—staging your space with a rustic wood bookcase or a contemporary geode end table will do the trick.

If you’re preparing your place for a showing or just need a few cohesive decorating tips, sprinkling plants and greenery can help balance out the heaviness of these natural elements.

Pastel Colors

While 2019 may have been a year of bold colors, 2020 will usher in a muted era. Pastel shades like the popular Millennial Pink, Neo Mint, and Buxton Blue will be giving interiors a softer aura, reminiscent of 1970s-era home trends.

Additionally, accent walls have started slipping in favor, replaced instead by more strategic splashes of color, like painted doors and cabinets, two-tone walls, and accent furniture pieces.

Don’t Fall Behind in the Latest Real Estate Trends

Each year brings new fads to the real estate world, and keeping up with them plays a major role in impressing buyers. Need a little help staying in the know? We’ve got you covered! Follow along with our blog for the latest updates, and check out our specialized resources for all of your buying and selling needs.

Have a few more questions? We’re just a phone call away.