First impressions matter, especially when it comes to real estate. Curb appeal is how your home looks from the street — it’s a prospective buyer’s first impression when viewing your home’s exterior. Curb appeal is a significant factor in preparing your Houston home for sale. It will be challenging to sell your home if the exterior looks rundown or unattractive, even if the interior is beautiful. A house that lacks curb appeal will feel unwelcoming to guests and potential buyers, so consider the following to ensure your Houston luxury property gets spotted and sold swiftly.
Tidy up the lawn
Lawn care is an essential part of maintaining curb appeal. Nothing shouts, “this home is well-kept,” like a manicured lawn. Care for your lawn by routinely mowing the grass, raking leaves, pulling weeds, clearing debris, and ensuring it’s thoroughly watered to prevent brown spots. As long as you stay on top of it, lawn care won’t become a major project. If you prefer an eco-friendly lawn that requires minimal maintenance, consider installing a lawn alternative.
Add greenery
One of the most obvious and impactful ways to bolster your home’s outward appearance is adding fresh greenery and flowers. Don’t fret if you don’t have the time to plant a garden — you can always hire a landscaping company to design a stunning garden area that will attract even the pickiest home buyers.
However, if you have the time and hopefully a green thumb, take the opportunity to bond with your family while gardening—plant native plants for an effortlessly beautiful and seasonal display of vibrant blooms. A pollinator garden of native flowering plants is a fantastic idea for a lovely collection that brings a plethora of butterflies, bees, and birds while simultaneously reducing the amount of thirsty grass in your yard.
Pressure-wash surfaces
Rent a gas-powered pressure washer to clean areas that would otherwise take hours to wash by hand. Your house’s siding, porch, decks, steps, and walkways will shine infinitely brighter after you’ve blasted away winter grit, dead bugs, and cobwebs. You may think something as simple as a dirty driveway won’t turn away potential buyers, but you’d be wrong. Minor details make all the difference between someone exploring your home’s offerings further or moving on to the next listing.
Clean the windows
This may seem like a small project, but don’t overlook it! House hunters will notice dusty or smudged windows full of fingerprints. Use an exterior window cleaning product that attaches to a hose, spray the solution on exterior glass and follow with clean water. Let it air-dry or squeegee it, and voila — sparkling clean windows!
Repaint the house
Repainting your property is a costly venture, but it will undoubtedly transform the look of your home. The last thing you need is prospective buyers to pull up to a home with cracked, faded paint. They’ll leave before they get the car door open! Periodic maintenance of your home’s exterior is a surefire way to keep your property and its curb appeal in tip-top shape. Once you’ve either repainted the house or fine-tuned some less-than-perfect areas, add personality with pops of color, trim, or shingles.
Paint the front door
Attract buyers with a door that pops. Painting your front door is an inexpensive and relatively easy DIY job, even for beginners. Choose a bold color to accentuate and enhance your home’s exterior. Don’t be afraid to go bright, but get a few swatches to see how the color holds up with your home’s exterior. You can also use this Front Door Paint app to test out different colors virtually.
Stain the garage door
Fool buyers and visitors into thinking your garage door is brand-new by staining it a new color. Start by power-washing to clean the surface, then paint on your stain. Here’s an easy guide for how to do it properly.
Decorate the entryway
Wreaths are welcome year-round, not just during Christmas. A charming wreath adds a welcome dose of beauty to your front door. You can opt for wreaths made from dried or preserved flowers or find one made from faux plants to last longer. Wayfair has some great wreath ideas for year-round use worth checking out.
Update your house numbers
A quick way to modernize your home’s appearance is by replacing your old house numbers with something with a bit more flair. Choose a font that meshes well with the architecture of your home but is also distinctive enough to grab the eye. Even if you’re not a big DIY person, replacing house numbers is an easy job that will take you 30 minutes or less.
Makeover your mailbox
Replace that old, worn-out mailbox with a hanging drop box that mirrors your home’s trimmings. Spruce up your mailbox by painting the wooden post to match the home’s exterior paint and surround it with a stunning flowering garden. A basic flower bed should do just fine, especially when it’s filled with native perennials.
Furnish the patio
To better evoke the elegant ambiance you’re going for, present a beautifully curated terrace. You aim to use plush, neutrally-colored furniture to create an inviting outdoor space that potential buyers will love. You want the area to be the perfect setting for buyers to envision sipping on a post-work glass of wine or curling up with a good book. A simple wicker chair, cozy daybed, and accent table with a vase of fresh flowers should do the trick.
Embrace symmetry
Decor and design that incorporate symmetry is pleasing to the eye and makes your home look more put-together. Achieve the look by placing matching wall lanterns or planters on either side of your front door. If there’s no space around the entryway, you can do the same thing by your garage door or even around the walkway to your front porch. Placing color-coordinated planters along your walkway or even matching florals throughout your garden work well.
Install new light fixtures
Nothing is inviting about a dark entryway. If you already have sconces flanking the front door, replace them with something a bit more chic and fresh. Dust and clean off all cobwebs and debris to instantly make the entryway appear brighter and clean. Consider some contemporary porch string lights or hanging a fixture above your terrace coffee table. Check this guide to help you choose a porch light that suits your needs and aesthetic.
Add shutters or accent trim
Shutters and trim beautify not only your home exterior but also add security and control light and ventilation. Shutters are available in wood, aluminum, composite, vinyl, or fiberglass options. Choose PVC resin or polyurethane for durable and low-maintenance trimming.
Replace gutters and downspouts
Chuck that old gutter system sporting peeling paint, rust spots, and other signs of neglect! Replace old gutters with newer, snap-fit vinyl gutter systems that are easy to install and don’t require painting. Opt for a copper system that conveys an unmistakable sense of quality and luxury for a long-lasting solution.
Are you looking to sell your home and require assistance from an esteemed Houston real estate agent? Contact Natasha Valasek to get your Houston luxury property on and off the market in a flash!