Recently I was driving a client around town to show her several homes that she had found online. The first home on the list was a ranch with a large yard and deck. As an experienced realtor, I’ve long discovered I can sense how a potential buyer feels about a property with little or no verbal cues. My client’s face told me everything I needed to know. She wasn’t smiling, and didn’t seem impressed. I understood why.
When it comes to buying and selling a home, first impressions are critical. The industry may call it curb appeal, but around our office we talk about showing homes like dating.
- For a buyer, looking at homes is like a first date. The guy (or girl) who shows up with a nice outfit will catch our interest more than if they look like they just crawled out of bed.
- For the seller, the problem is they haven’t been on a date in years. They will show up in wrinkled cargo shorts (i.e. bad landscaping) because they’ve forgotten how to impress someone else.
I’m stretching this metaphor, but I think you get my point.
So here are three things we both noticed that the seller could have changed to improve their home’s curb appeal (and perhaps even helped my buyer fall in love).
- Size Matters
A normal size person looks small next to Arnold Schwarzenegger. That’s because proportion matters. No shrubs or plant life should be as tall as your home. They diminish your home’s stature and makes it look small.
Mature trees are fine as long as they are away from the home. If you planted a small tree 15 years ago and now it’s up against the house, cut it down.
- Grooming Matters
Wild and unkempt looks cool on a teenager at a rave, but it doesn’t remind you of a life-partner. Put away the junk. Mow the lawn, Trim shrubs and bushes with bare branches that look dead or dying. All this detracts from the curb appeal of a home in a major way.
- Watch out for Dandruff
Stop the flakes! Always use stain on wood. Paint does not weather well, and will begin to chip sooner than stain will fade. Fading stain looks better than a deck or porch covered in chipped paint.
What about products that claim they are “stain paint?” Don’t fall for the marketing ploy! It will chip off just like normal paint.
Always power wash your deck before applying the stain. Not only will the power washer get rid of the old faded stain, but it will wash way all the dirt and grime that may be clinging to the wood. Power washers can be pricey but renting one is relatively cheap and a hassle-free experience.
Once you power wash and the deck is free from the old stain, dirt and debris you must let the wood dry completely. After, around 24–48 hours you’re ready to apply the stain.
In the end, I have two pieces of advice. For buyers, try to look past superficial flaws and think about if you could fall in love with a house for years. And for sellers, if you want to attract a buyer, you need to get your A-Game on.