When it comes to selling your home, a buyer’s first impression of your property matters more than you might think.
The first open inspection is scheduled and you’re hoping to get loads of prospective buyers through the gate and to receive lots of great offers. What you don’t want is all those optimistic buyers running for the exit before they’ve even set foot in the house.
So, it’s important to ensure their first impression is positive. Let’s chat about ways to maximise the street appeal for your property so that it’s a case of love at first sight for every potential buyer.
Mow the lawns
A quick and cost-effective way to give your home instant street appeal is simply by mowing the lawns. Every home looks better with a freshly mowed lawn – and don’t forget the edges! A tidy lawn has instant appeal, indicating that this home has been well cared for.
If you’re selling in summer or autumn, water the lawns before and during your sales campaign so that they always look green. You don’t need to compete with the local lawn bowls club, but at least aim for neat and tidy lawns.
Weed the gardens
It’s time to slip, slop and slap on the gardening gloves. Get outdoors and pull out the rogue and random weeds that have popped up and made your garden beds look unkempt. Get trigger happy and spray any weeds in driveways and garden paths at least three weeks before your first open inspection.
Adding a fresh load of bark chips or mulch to garden beds is also a great way to freshen your street appeal.
Go Rambo with the pressure cleaner
Buy, hire or borrow a pressure cleaner and go berserk! Pressure clean your driveway, paths and front porch - and even your tiled roof. Dirty roof tiles covered in mossy lichen greatly detracts from the visual appeal of your home.
Clean the gutters
Ok, clean gutters don’t add to the visual appeal of your property, that’s true. But waterfalls are not something you want buyers to be greeted with if it rains bucket loads during your open inspections!
Paint the exterior
A coat of paint can transform the exterior of your home from ho-hum to stunning! Often people paint the interior before selling their home – but painting any peeling or faded timber on the outside of your home is also money well spent because ‘well-cared-for’ is definitely an appealing look to any buyer.
Don’t forget to include your fence and letterbox if they need painting too.
Remove rubbish bins
The best first impression your home can give does not include a row of grubby rubbish bins. Put your bins away either in the garage, carport or somewhere out of sight from the street.
And if the weather is hot, check that the rubbish bins aren’t smelly. Wafting whiffy aromas do not enhance your home’s street appeal.
Look AT your windows
Pop outside and look AT your front windows instead of through them. Are they clean? Do the timber frames need painting? Are your blinds or curtains across the front of the house all the same?
Clean and tidy windows with uniform window furnishings facing the street makes your home look more organised and inviting.
These simple and affordable suggestions help to bring buyers through your home with a positive mindset from the moment they arrive. We know it makes a difference.
