GRAB BUYERS’ ATTENTION AT THE FRONT DOOR: WHY CURB APPEAL MATTERS

Many people mistakenly assume that even if their home’s exterior could use some updates, buyers will fall in love once they get inside. The problem with this thinking is that most times buyers won’t make it inside the home. Some will refuse to go enter the home, while others will spend the time inside looking for things that confirm what their initial impression was, based on the exterior of the home.

     However, this works both ways. If buyers like what they see on the outside they will find reasons inside to confirm that initial positive impression they got from the home’s exterior. Some buyers find homes by driving around neighborhoods where they would like to live, and look for homes for sale. If they see one with great curb appeal, they may be the one to bring it to their agent’s attention and ask to see it.

     On the other hand, agents will send batches of listings to their clients, who will drive by each of them before they decide whether or not they want to actually make an appointment to see the interior. The way a home looks on the exterior sends a message to buyers about how well the sellers maintain the entire home -- whether or not this is actually true or not.

     As you can see, there are many valid reasons for giving a home’s exterior the attention it deserves. The actual techniques you use to improve a home’s curb appeal will vary, depending on each individual home. But remember, home staging always includes a home's exterior. Specific examples, ideas and suggestions are given in Curb Appeal: An Important Step for Staging a Home. And remember, as with any home staging technique, it does not necessarily have to cost a lot of money and you will see the results in your home’s selling price and time on the market.

Both of these pictures are examples of homes with great curb appeal.

Copyright 2009, 2008 (respectively) by one2c900d (from Flickr.com)