Ultimate curb appeal checklist for sellers

Key insights:

• When it comes to curb appeal, a clean home exterior creates a bright canvas for additional features to pop.
• Add flowers and lights alongside your home’s walkway. This will draw potential buyers’ eyes straight into your front door.
• Finishing touches like new cushions and fixtures make all the difference when it comes to selling your home.

While today’s market continues to favor home sellers, it’s still important to put your best foot forward when listing your house on the market. Whether you’re looking to attract buyers online or in person, curb appeal is one of the most important things a home seller can master.

When it comes to curb appeal, the real goal is to draw the buyer from the curb to the front door (or in some cases, the virtual front door). Keep in mind, the more interested buyers you can appeal to, the more likely you are to receive a strong set of offers.

Start with these outdoor cleaning tips

Exterior siding is an ultra-important aspect of your home. Not only does siding keep a home sturdy and protected from nature’s elements, but it is also one of the first things people will notice about your home. Clean and maintained siding creates a polished appearance that will set the tone for potential buyers as they enter your space.

To keep your siding looking shiny and new, start by washing the exterior of the home. To do so, either rent a pressure washer (be sure to keep the pressure gauge low near windows) or use a hose. Work to remove dirt and debris with the pressure sprayer and scrub brush. Once the siding is cleaned, you can determine whether the home needs a new paint job or if you can get by with freshening up a few trouble spots.

Next, wash every window on the exterior and the interior of your home until the glass sparkles. Pro tip: the best way to create streak-free windows is to nix the paper towels and use crumpled-up newspapers instead.

Exterior home maintenance to-dos

When it comes to exterior maintenance, we recommend starting from the top down. If your roof is sagging or will bring down the overall appeal of the home in photographs or in person, you may want to consider replacing your roof. Otherwise, you can replace shingles and make sure that all leaks or gaps are filled in. Don’t forget to clean and straighten your gutters, too.

Next, you may want to repaint the areas that see the most wear, including:

• Trim
• Shutters
• Railings
• Decks and porches

Nearly every home will benefit from painting these surfaces, and it’s much cheaper and less time-consuming than redoing the entire siding of the house. Here are some tips on paint application and choosing a color.

Finally, look at the walkways and driveway to determine whether they need to be redone or if they have just a few cracks that can be patched. Here’s a great tutorial from This Old House on how to give new life to concrete surfaces that have seen better days.

Prioritize these aspects of your yard

Great landscaping helps pull a buyer’s eye up to the front door of the home. Whether a potential buyer is driving by your property or looking virtually, a thriving yard will help draw their interest.

Be sure to emphasize walkways, no matter how short or long they are. In-ground plants and solar LED lights can help showcase the paths leading up to your front door. Once you get closer to the entry, the landscaping grand finale should include plenty of plants. In-ground flowers or potted arrangements will create a bright and lively invitation for buyers to enter.

Of course, we don’t want to forget about the foundation of your front yard. If your lawn is mostly grass, here’s what you need to do:

• Fill in any problem areas with new sod.
• Water your lawn to keep it lush.
• Mow your yard often.

Last, pack fresh mulch tightly around your existing plants for even coverage and get rid of any dingy mulch.

Finishing touches that make all the difference

Congratulations, you’ve made it to the fun part! The final details are usually the most exciting and cost-effective updates for homeowners.

It’s undeniable that a new front door is the best curb appeal update you can make. Not only will it recoup nearly 70 percent of the cost at resale, it will change the entire vibe of your property’s exterior. Consider painting it a bright, complementary color to really give your home an extra pop.

Does your home’s front walkway or porch have room for an outdoor seating area? Look into new benches, porch swings or casual chairs to demonstrate how great the home is for entertaining or relaxing.

Last, look at the fixtures — all of them. It’s common for homeowners to replace fixtures only when they break, which results in a hodgepodge of looks. Sync the exterior look by purchasing new fixtures that match in style and finish, including:

• Doorbells
• Door knockers
• House numbers
• Mailboxes
• Mail slots
• Light fixtures

Commitment to curb appeal

Looking to add some extra curb appeal to your home before listing your property for sale? Edina Realty agents show homes every day, so you can rest assured that you’re in good hands when they help you prepare your home for sale.

When moving forward in the process of adding curb appeal to your home and lawn, reach out to Edina Realty or your agent today!