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Sprucing Up for the Spring Market

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Washington Capital Partners

The 2016 spring market is here, which means buyers are beginning to seriously search for their new home. First impressions can often make or break a buyer's decision on a home, and can influence whether or not buyers will even come to see your property. You have spent thousands of dollars bringing the property back from functional obsolescence or giving the property a much needed face lift, so don't skimp on the curb appeal.

It surprises us that so often, investors will go to great lengths in fixing up a property, but can't find the extra dollars to clean up the exterior. Painting the exterior will go a long way in attracting buyers. If you are flipping a house in an area where the market is softening, you'll want to do everything in your power to sell fast. The longer your property sits on market the higher your holding costs will be. Make the investment into the exterior of the house. Here are a few ways to spruce up your home's curb appeal to get more buyers in the door.

  • Landscape
    • Before you take any photos of your house, make sure the yard is presentable. Mow the lawn, trim back shrubs, and remove any large patches of weeds. A healthy lawn improves the overall look of the house.
  • Update Fixtures
    • Something as simple as replacing exterior light fixtures, your mailbox, or the house numbers can improve the home's curb appeal. If buyers can see that the property is well-maintained, they should be more inclined to look into it.
  • Hose it Down
    • Pressure washing is a quick and relatively inexpensive way to instantly increase your home's curb appeal. You can use it on the deck, siding, driveway and sidewalks of your property to remove dirt and grime that has built up on these surfaces. You'd be surprised at what a difference a simple pressure wash can make. As the homeowner, you might get used to the look of your oil-stained driveway and unwashed deck, but remember these buyers are going to look at every angle of the property with a critical eye.
  • Add Color
    • Adding a pop of color outside the home is pleasing to the eye. Whether you plant flowers in the yard, install flower boxes to your windows or front porch, or add a colorful planter, the various colors will brighten your landscape and make your home stand out.
  • Improve Lighting
    • Whether inside or outside the home, remember to think about lighting. Perhaps you want to add outdoor lights that focus on the landscaping of your front lawn. Or you could line the walking paths or highlight any custom fixtures. Solar lights are inexpensive, and can really improve your home's exterior look. As far as the inside of your home goes, be sure to open your curtains, shudders and blinds so as much light as possible filters into the house. Brighter rooms are often more attractive, and open curtains tend to make the house seem more welcoming to any visitors.
  • Quality Photos
    • The photos you post online are usually the first impression buyers get of your home. Make sure you have high-quality photos of your uncluttered home to pique interest.

*All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site. The owner of this blog will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information.

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Maria Peace
THE BROKER NETWORK OF CENTRAL OREGON, LLC - Bend, OR
MBA, GRI

Good and useful post for sellers and reminder to realtors as well.

Mar 02, 2016 05:34 AM