By Clara Beaufort
When trying to sell a home, you want to make it as attractive as possible to potential buyers. Curb appeal refers to the first impressions people have of a home as viewed from the street — and it can make or break a potential sale.
According to the Association for Psychological Science, it only takes 1/10 of a second for a person to make a judgment. For owners of single-family houses and townhomes, make sure your property impresses by incorporating some of these tips:
Transform your lawn with landscaping
Brown spots of dead or damaged grass immediately detract from a home’s curb appeal. A lush lawn doesn’t happen on its own, however. You should put in the effort to create a green oasis, including seeding, aerating, and fertilizing. If you don’t have the tools, time or energy to take care of these tasks yourself, hire a landscaper to do the job.
Mulching your garden is another way to present a clean-cut appearance as it evens the surface of the ground. Other tips to boost curb appeal include planting trees and shrubs along the property line for greater privacy, adding lighting to illuminate the driveway or front walkway, and sprucing up your mailbox with a fresh coat of paint (or simply getting a new one).
Brighten up your yard with flowers
Although you will likely want to hire a landscaper to take care of the above tasks, you can further improve the yard’s appearance with some DIY work. All it takes is planting some regionally appropriate flowers. In our area of the Puget Sound, Better Homes & Gardens has a list of perennials that do well here, including the Shasta daisy, dahlia and sword fern. Grab gardening gloves and a trowel to get the job done yourself.
Of course, if it’s wintertime, you won’t have the opportunity to beautify your property with blooms. As we’ve covered before, there are still essential steps Seattle homeowners should take to winterize their homes and yards, including tree trimming as one essential step.
Clean the exterior siding and windows
Dust, pollen and rain leave the exterior of a house smudged and dirty. This can be especially problematic in our area. The region is also affected by pollen from February to September. It is particularly susceptible in rural areas, where pollen counts can be as much as 100 times higher.
To undo the damage of rain and pollen wherever you may live, pressure wash the home siding. Even if the paint on your home needs freshening, a thorough spray wash will be the first step before you can repaint. Additionally, take the time to clean the windows to get them sparkling. A simple DIY vinegar-based solution and a clean rag will do the trick.
Hide aesthetic blemishes with foliage or woodwork
There may be aspects of your property threatening to mar its curb appeal that you can’t really change. For example, a large air-conditioning unit out front isn’t attractive — but AC is a valuable selling point and can’t be eliminated. You can hide the unit by strategically placing shrubs around the air system or conceal it with a small wooden fence.
Follow these pointers to enhance your home’s curb appeal and make it stand out amid a competition real estate market. The effort required will be well worth it and act as a buyer magnet.
Clara Beaufort is a retired business owner with a passion for gardening. She shares her thoughts and insights on gardening through the articles she writes.