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Written by Eric Rogers
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Thursday, 05 April 2007 |
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Word Count: 1531 10 Inexpensive Outdoor Fixes to Help Sell Your Home
Many experts recommend updating your home’s exterior to improve your chances
to sell. Rightfully so! Most of the fixes you can do outdoors that will pay big
dividends at closing are low cost and relatively easy to accomplish with a
minimum amount of tools.
Several popular TV programs focus on improving the exterior appearance of homes.
Often, properties showcased on these programs undergo amazing visual
transformations after very small changes. We can use this attitude – more for
less – to improve your own home.
First, a tip: remember our motto – more for less. We want to focus on small,
inexpensive changes that impact the VISUAL appearance of your home. Fixing that
broken sprinkler head in the back corner (things that will not be seen by
visiting buyers) or spending big bucks for major improvements like adding mature
landscaping will surprisingly yield less than you think.
1. Mow, Trim and Water
Perhaps the cheapest of all fixes – if you have a yard, you more than likely
already have the tools. Plan on mowing 2 days before an open house (this gives
the grass clippings a chance to dry up and blow away – sweep up whatever is left
before your visitors arrive). Trim those hedges and cut away dead or unsightly
tree branches. Also, if you tend to save money by not watering, now’s the time
to spend a little – just a couple good soaks a week can really make a
difference. You can also invest in a bag of fertilizer. You really want your
grass to be as green and nice as possible.
2. Keep the Yard Neat
Some buyers can be turned off by clutter in the yard. This can include:
Scattered toys – clean them up and ask your children to help clean
and keep things tidy – maybe offer an incentive like a trip for some ice cream
Excess lawn ornaments – as a general rule, no more than 2 in the
front and 2 in the back. Seriously. If you have more, time to start packing them
up for the move.
Jumbled or neglected lawn furniture – if you’re keeping it, put it
in the shed or an off-site storage shed. If this isn’t possible, do your best to
clean it and keep it stacked or placed nicely. Of course, if you have a nice
deck or patio and your furniture is in good repair, you can highlight the use of
this space for entertainment – unfurl the umbrella for your open house.
Visible yard equipment – keep the mower, trimmer, shovel, rake
etc. in the shed or in the garage, or if possible, in an off-site storage shed.
Coil up that hose and keep it out of site (but at hand for watering).
Trash – give your yard the once-over – look for stray pieces of
trash in and under the bushes, near the fences and wherever you feel trash might
collect.
Animal waste – if you have a pet, really work hard at removing all
pet waste. Buyers want to walk around the yard, and stepping in something is
never good – even worse if they track it into your nicely cleaned house. This is
a big one and only takes an hour or so of unpleasantness.
3. Freshen the Mulch and Remove Weeds
If you have beds with mulch, get a bag or two of fresh mulch – changing the
washed-out grey of old mulch to the light-brown of new is a big visual
improvement. Also, do your best to keep your planters weed free. You can save by
staying away from weed killers or other chemicals – the last thing you want is
brown, dying weeds. Two hands, a small trowel and some sturdy gloves are the way
to go.
4. Flowers Sell
An oldie but a goodie – if it’s an appropriate time of the year, plant some nice
flowers in the front of the house. Go for rich colors – reds, purples, blues –
and low-maintenance types. Impatiens are hardy, pretty and fairly inexpensive –
that’s just one suggestion. Hanging baskets or potted flowers on the porch
create a warm and inviting entry to your home.
5. Wash that House
You’d be surprised at the amount of dirt a house naturally attracts and how much
brighter it looks without it. If you have a hose nozzle, put it on the stream
setting and give your house a bath. Even better, spend a few bucks on one of
those spray-on, wash-off house cleaners – just make sure you get one suitable
for your type of siding (read the product specifications before you buy). For a
real revelation, borrow a pressure washer from a friend, just be careful you
don’t strip paint – we’re trying to save, not start a month-long painting
project. Speaking of which….
6. To Paint or Not to Paint
That is the question. On one hand, paint is fairly inexpensive and can make
things really look fresh and new. On the other, some houses have LOTS of areas
to paint, and painting one or a few only draws attention to those areas that
didn’t get treated. Here’s where you have to use your own judgment. Exterior
painting can really get to be a can of worms, especially when you have to deal
with scaffolding and such. My rule of thumb is: if you can do it yourself
without using expensive equipment (scaffolding) and do it quickly and relatively
cheaply, go for it. If not, focus your energy on other areas.
7. Fix any Obvious Repair Issues
Things like broken shutters, missing shingles that are visible from the ground,
badly dented or missing siding and all other random and general repairs should
be taken care of if possible. Remember our motto: more for less. If something
will take too long or cost too much, unless you feel it is a major visual
distraction, best to leave it alone. I usually take a few circles around the
outside of the house and just write down any negatives I can see. Go stand out
at the curb and take a look – note anything out of order. Afterwards, I take the
list and prioritize. I put the things that are big visual distractions or
cheap/easy fixes at the top and begin there.
8. Wash the Windows
You don’t need to get all the way up to the highest ones, but the ones on the
ground floor should be washed. This will allow visitors to see into the house
from outside and gives it the appearance of being more inviting as opposed to
drawn curtains and closed blinds.
9. Ask the Neighbors to Help Out
Many don’t even think about this, but make sure your neighbors know you’ll be
holding an open house – they might even help you with some word-of-mouth
advertising. If your neighbors are thinking of having the drive resurfaced,
doing heavy yard work, paining the exterior of the house, parking a garbage
truck in the driveway, (etc. etc.) the day of your open house, politely ask that
they do those things on another day. You don’t want buyers to come away with any
negative impressions about your home or neighborhood and neighbors are a big
thing to new buyers.
10. Prepare the Home for Showing
Remove all personal items from the exterior of the house – those plaques that
read “The Smith Family” should be taken down and packed away, same thing with
personalized mailboxes – either replace them (you will have to if you want to
take it with you) or remove any personal identification. Take a few minutes and
sweep the porch, steps, deck, patio, driveway and sidewalk before visitors
arrive – a good once-over is fine. Put your cars in the garage, or better yet,
the street. If you have heavy oil or grease spots, try to get your hands on a
degreaser – you can find them at your local home improvement stores. A little
scrubbing will really improve the look of your driveway or garage. Finally, turn
on all exterior lights, even during the day. If you have landscaping lights,
turn these on as well. Do any last-minute pick-ups or put-aways, and then head
out. It’s always better to NOT be home when visitors come to look at your house
– it feels like an imposition for many people. You want them spending as much
time as they want in your home.
Congratulations – you have now set yourself up for success! After completing all
of these things, you have greatly increased your chances of a sale and also
increased your chances of realizing more money at closing. Many home buyers take
visual appearance very seriously when choosing a new home. By making sure your
house looks as nice as it can be from the outside, you have left a positive and
lasting impression on your potential buyers.
Eric Rogers is a full-time, award-winning REALTOR with Century 21 Pro-Team in
Aurora, Illinois.
http://www.illinoislandandhomes.com
http://www.montgomeryrealestate-il.com
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