In one word, YES! First impressions mean everything, and that starts with the first look at your home, which is the front yard! According to realtor.com, 66% of homebuyers have already made up their mind before they walk through your front door, and most realtors say this is mainly due to curb appeal!
So, what do you need to do to boost your home’s curb appeal? Start by taking a good look at your home from, well, the curb. What do you notice? Broken limbs, dead bushes, and lifeless plants? Peeling paint, broken windows, or mildew and spider webs covering the front porch? Any potential buyer will see all those things, too. Remove dead shrubbery, freshen flowerpots and mulch, and give that front door a fresh coat of paint! Hide any yard tools or garbage cans that may be visible and declutter ALL yard ornaments and kid and dog toys. A good pressure washing goes a long way, too! Finish it all off with a new doormat and your home will give a fantastic first impression! It may cost a bit of time and money for these things, but you’ll reap the rewards when you sell for top dollar.
Kathy Caufield is an experienced real estate agent with RealtySouth. You can submit a home buying and selling question to Kathy for her weekly column by sending an email to [email protected]. Disclosure: Kathy Caufield is also an advertiser in The Gardendale News.
