Growing up you may have heard the old adage “don’t judge a book by its cover.” The idea behind this saying is to not make a hasty decision about something based on how it looks on the outside.
Unfortunately, this concept may be true in most instances in life, and in the world of real estate and home sales, maybe even more so. Most buyers will tell you that the first impression made by a home’s exterior is critically important to whether they consider a home going forward.
Curb appeal, as it is known in the real estate market, is essential to making a positive first impression in potential home buyers’ minds (and hearts). Let’s take a closer look at what curb appeal is and how paint may be one of the most influential and transformative ways to boost a home’s curb appeal.
What Is Curb Appeal?
The term curb appeal refers to how attractive a home looks upon first laying eyes upon it. Whether this is done online through a real estate listing site or in person during a walk-through or open house, the idea is that buyers make judgments about the aesthetics of the home based on how it looks when first viewing it.
Components of curb appeal include the exterior paint or siding on a home, the lighting options, the cleanliness of the landscaping, the quality of the hardscape, the condition of the roofing, as well as the overall appearance of the windows, walkways, plantings, and the entryway. If these items are in less-than-stellar condition buyers may make a quick decision that if the outdoor area is not great then the interior may also be in shabby condition.
In fact, according to a RE/MAX Twitter Poll, a majority of responders, 46.2%, agree that a shabby exterior is the biggest turn-off when touring homes. In stark contrast to this study is one completed by REALTOR® Magazine, which revealed that homes with an appealing exterior will sell, on average, for 7% more than comparable homes with a rundown appearance.
Improve Your Home’s Curb Appeal
With these numbers in mind, it makes sense to ensure that your home is in tip-top shape when listing it to sell this spring.
Painting a home’s exterior is one of the best ways to make the structure look fresh, new, and well-cared for. Peeling or blistering paint can send a signal that the home is in disrepair both inside and out regardless of whether that is true.
Real estate experts believe that painting the exterior of a home has a 90% return on investment depending on the current market and will make a home appear more valuable. Landscaping can increase the value of a home by 14% and allow for a shortened listing time by an average of 6 weeks in some cases. Power washing a home’s exterior as well as hardscapes and driveways can increase the value of a home by thousands of dollars and create a clean first impression for home buyers.
These are just a few examples of ways to boost curb appeal and how they can impact your bottom line when listing a home. Talk to our team about painting the exterior and interior spaces of your home before you list this spring.