By admin1
When you hear “curb appeal,” you imagine a perfectly manicured lawn bordered by colorful perennial flowers. But if you’re selling your home when the snow arrives, lush landscaping isn’t an option. You’ll need to get creative with your winter curb appeal to give buyers a cheerful first impression.
And trust us, winter curb appeal is well worth the effort. According to our recent Top Agent Insights Report, curb appeal is one of the home preparations with the highest ROI in terms of helping the home sell and increasing its sale price — up to $8,000 more.
“If people don’t like the outside, they are going to think the inside looks bad, too,” comments Nicole Hajdu, a top Chicago real estate agent who sells homes 53% faster than the average agent. “It has to look like a show home, inside and out. The way the house looks on the outside is really painting a picture of what it’s like inside.”
With insight from Hajdu, we put together this list of 12 winter curb appeal ideas to beautify your exterior no matter what the sky throws at it. You can tackle each of these easy projects in a weekend to quickly whip your exterior into shape for your home sale.
1. Paint the front door a cheery shade
30% of top agents in our survey consider painting as the home prep with the highest ROI, potentially adding over $12,000 to the home value at resale.
“Make sure that it’s a bright color because it’s dark during the winter,” says Hajdu. “That really can be a showstopper. There’s a lot of bright blue and red doors, especially on white houses.”
For a brilliant blue door, try Sherwin-Williams’ Tantalizing Teal or the nautical-inspired Salty Dog. If you prefer to add heat to your entry, opt for Modern Masters’ Satin Sophisticated, a rich red.
In addition to paint, purchase painter’s tape, a paint tray, a roller, and brushes. On average, the cost to paint a door runs between $79 and $178, according to Porch.com. Benjamin Moore’s handy calculator lets you know exactly how much paint to buy, typically around ¾ of a quart.
2. Invest in new address numbers and a mailbox
An easy way to boost winter curb appeal is to update your address numbers and mailbox. Swapping out address numbers takes less than an hour and only requires the new numbers, nails, and a hammer.
Pick a style that complements your home’s architecture and match the finish to either the mailbox or your door hardware. For example, these bronze numbers perfectly suit bungalow-style homes. Explore options for your home on websites like Modern House Numbers and Etsy.
If you have a post mailbox facing the street, it’s likely one of the first features a buyer will notice about your home. Replace your rusty mailbox with a new one from a hardware store like Home Depot or Lowe’s. If your existing mailbox just needs a clean, follow these easy tips to clean it up using everyday household products like baking soda or vinegar and grade #3 steel wool.
And lastly, don’t forget to brush snow off your new address numbers and mailbox before open houses and home showings!
3. Tidy up your landscaping by removing debris
Winter weather is no excuse for neglecting your landscaping. Even if a potential buyer lacks a green thumb, they’ll notice a dying plant or bush in need of a trim. Remove anything dead or unlikely to survive winter from your front yard and porch.
“Dust off the bushes in the front,” shares Hajdu, who advises sellers to do this even if you think the snow dusting looks charming. You’ll also want to remove autumn leaves that accumulate on the tops of bushes for a tidier appearance.
Before every home showing, check your front yard for pet droppings and yellow snow — your cute corgi’s morning mess is a turn off for buyers.
4. Hire a professional roofer to inspect your roof’s shingles
Winter storms wreak havoc on your roof and can crack, warp, and blow away its shingles. However, we don’t recommend going up on the roof alone in icy conditions. Hire a professional to inspect and repair your roof in the fall before the first frost if possible. The average cost for a roof inspection runs between $125 and $376.
This proactive home improvement might even spare you from drama after the home sale papers are signed. “A lot of inspectors don’t go on the roof,” says Hajdu, sharing that she’s experienced buyers complaining about the roof’s condition after closing. “You don’t want any issues with the buyer.”
5. Clear driveways and walkways for improved curb appeal and safety
Homebuyers who see an un-shoveled walkway will immediately visualize themselves in-charge of the back-breaking task. They also may feel suspicious of the hardscape’s condition if they can’t see it for themselves. Clear your walkways and driveways to prevent your buyers from having these negative thoughts upon arrival.
Stock up on extra ice melt to keep your driveway and walkways clear and safe throughout the listing period. Compare pellet, granule, and liquid options with Menards’ Snow and Ice Melting Buying Guide. A 50-pound bag of ice melt costs $15 to $35 on average.
Once you’ve cleared your pathways, light them up with solar-powered lights sturdy enough to survive the winter. If you live in an area with heavy snowfall, opt for lights with tall posts, so they don’t get buried under the snow.
