We always suggest to people that before they actually put their home on the market, they get ready to Stage it from the outside. We’ve all heard about home staging on the inside, there are even TV shows that give you ideas and how to do it. But on the outside, very little is spoken about that.
When a buyer first walks up the driveway to see your house they will be looking and they will form a first impression. And you only get one chance to make a good first impression. So do what you have to do to make it a good one.
Take a good look at the driveway and walkway. Are there cracks in the concrete, the brick pathway, or the pavers that are home to weeds? If so, get rid of them. Pull them out by the roots, or make it easier and go to the local hardware store and get a chemical that will kill them. And while you’re doing that, take a look at the garden beds. Are they overgrown and or full of weeds? Take a little time and take care of those little problems.
How about the siding, is it clean and neat or is it dirty? If it’s dirty, you need to take care of it. I’m not telling that you need to put on new siding. However washing it will be a big help. You can either use a power washer, or go to the hardware store and get a shampooing product designed for siding. This attaches to the end of the hose and you spray it on. Then let it sit for a specified time, and then rinse it off. And this can make it look very very good.
How about the windows? Are they dirty? How about the screens? Are they dirty or even worse full of holes and tears? You need to take care of that little problem. You can wash the windows and you can wash the screens. If the screens are beyond repair, it’s very simple just put a new screen on. Home improvement stores sell a lit along with instructions. It’s easy to do. Or there are many companies around if you just take the screen frames into them, they’ll put the new screens on for you.
Next take a look at your front door. Is it dirty? You use it all the time, you don’t even notice it anymore. Give it a good washing, or if it’s really bad put a fresh coat of paint on. And look at the hardware. Is it dirty? Tarnished? If it is clean it and make it nice and good looking or simply replace it.
Just making a few changes like this to the exterior of your house can reap big benefits.