Exterior Home Upgrades That Help Sell Your House

Make It Sparkle

Washing away the muck that builds up on your home’s “face” is a great way to put a shine on your exterior and may even add big dollars to your selling price. Grab a bucket of soapy water and a soft-bristled, long-handled brush to remove dirt and dust from vinyl, wood, brick, stucco or metal surfaces. Clean your windows inside and out and make sure your eaves are cobweb free. Rent a pressure washer to give your driveway and walkways a good scrubbing and on a lighter setting, you can gently wash most exterior surfaces. Pressure washing can also help knock loose paint off your home in preparation for a paint job, if it’s on your agenda.

Give It a Dose of Color

Following a good cleaning, nothing freshens up wood exteriors better than a coat of paint. While this is one of the more expensive and time-consuming exterior upgrades, buyers instantly notice and it can increase the value an appraiser puts on your property. Resist going with over-the-top colors, however, which can have the opposite effect. A warm, inviting color that appeals to a majority of home buyers can maximize your curb appeal and help you sell your home. The same is true of painting the eaves, soffit and trim in brick homes and replacing cracked or broken vinyl siding.

Start at the Top

Another potentially pricey upgrade is your roof, but its condition is often the first thing potential buyers notice. Appraisers also frown on roofs in need of repair and it’s reflected in your home’s assessment. If your roof is still sound, it may only need a professional cleaning to make it look new again. Replace missing, damaged or discolored shingles to help sell your home. If your roof is several decades old or has multiple layers of shingles, when possible, go for a complete replacement. You’ll get a good ROI (return on investment) and potentially avoid problems during your home’s inspection.

Landscaping Adds Curb Appeal

Many homeowners tend to disregard the importance of a well-maintained lawn and nicely landscaped grounds when they put their home on the market. Like other exterior features, landscaping, or lack thereof, is one of the first things potential buyers notice. According to one landscape economist on HouseLogic, good landscaping can increase the overall value of your home by 28% and allow you to sell your home quicker. Plus, it’s one of the cheaper remodeling projects with one of the biggest ROI. Start by cleaning up the front and back yards, then do basic landscaping like manicuring the lawn and pruning and mulching out of control shrubs and trees. Give your landscaping a pop of color by strategically planting vibrant flowers. If possible, plant some trees, which can have a dramatic effect on your property value, and your neighbor’s, as well. Plant healthy, native trees for best results and steer clear of problem trees like black walnuts that literally poison nearby vegetation and actually hurt your property value.

General Maintenance

Don’t overlook general exterior maintenance tasks, especially those you can do yourself. Not only can deferring maintenance choirs decrease your home’s value, it can also cause further damage. Plus, nothing sets off warning bells in potential buyers faster than obvious signs of neglect. To improve your home’s exterior appeal, tackle small repairs like sagging gutters, crooked shutters, cracked windows, loose bricks and split asphalt. Then, spruce up areas that look run-down and won’t hold up to close scrutiny. Giving your home an overall facelift can determine whether you sell your house right away or it sits idle on the market.

Nothing beats a good first impression, so if you’re looking for bigger improvements that potentially add value and help sell your home, consider energy efficient window replacements, or installing walkways, retaining walls, terracing, fencing, porches and decks. Also, don’t forget to stage the exterior of your house during an open house, just as you would the inside, so buyers can better visualize enjoying time outdoors in their new backyard.