You've completed your decluttering and donated the tchotchkes. The leaky faucet and the unfinished closet upgrade are finally done. Now it's time to focus on the outside of your home. What prospective buyers see as they walk up to the front door will color their view of your home, good or bad.
First, the path to your front door. If buyers can't figure out how to get into your house, they'll never get to see how nice it is inside. Is the walkway clean? Start with a broom to clear any debris. Pull any weeds that may have sprouted between sections. Are the planting beds along the walk neat and weed free? Have you raked the mulch to freshen it up? Did you trim the plants and remove any dead branches? Does the grass along the walk follow a neat line? Clean that up with a straight edge shovel. Still looking a little dingy? Powerwashing will help. You can probably rent one from your local hardware store, but finish assessing your outside work first.
Your front door speaks volumes about what to expect inside. Sweep away the cobwebs, make sure the door bell is clean and functions. Clean the door and the sill. If there are chips in the paint, or scratches, repaint. If you are daring, go for a pop of color. Clean the glass on the light fixture. Make sure all of the bulbs work, and are the same color and style. Change your entrance mat to something new that cooridnates with the door color, and then add seasonal plants or flowers that pull all of the colors together.
What will the buyers see when they park on the street? Does the rest of the house match the walk and the front door? Is everything neat and clean or does the front need some refreshing? Here you may need to tred lightly, especially if you have not kept up the exterior. Does your driveway need to be resealed? Overgrown shrubs may look bare if your try to trim everything all at once. Your house may come down with a case of the measles if you powerwash incorrectly. Washing your house with a garden hose and scrubber may be the better choice. When in doubt, consult a professional, otherwise you could do more harm than good.
Continue your tour all the way around the house and into the garage. Powerwash your outdoor furniture to bring it back to life. Old and faded pieces may need to go into the shed. Is the backyard strewn with toys? Store what you can, and clean what has to stay outside. If your puppy dug holes in the yard, fill in the low spots and add grass seed, or place a few pieces of sod. Don't forget to water so the new grass takes.
Lastly, tackle the garage. If that's your catch-all area, you'll need to deal with it. Toss or donate what you can. If you are overwhelmed with tools that are no longer used, call the local Habitat for Humanity Restore. They'll probably take any tools that are in working order. If there's still too much stuff, think about moving it to a storage center. If most of it belongs to adult children who are out of the house, give them a deadline to come get it. Then call your local Goodwill Industries to donate what is left.
A home with great curb appeal is going to sell faster, and for more money than one without. Maximize the value of your home by making it look its best. Call #RynoMarketing when you are ready to start, and we can help you every step along the way.