Love at First Sight: Curb Appeal

North Kingstown, RI MLS # 1272982.  Listed by Erin Marsh, Mott & Chace Sotheby’s International Realty

Don’t underestimate the importance of curb appeal in getting buyers’ attention and getting them through the door to consider a purchase.

Cleaning the exterior of your home is a simple and inexpensive start to improving its presentation.  Power wash the structure, scrub the awnings, clean out the gutters, and wash the windows. Ensure the light fixtures are clean and replace bulbs where needed.  And, as always, my advice is to purge – no decorative flags, signs, or wall “art.”

A fresh coat of paint, including on window trim and doors, will make a big impact.  I strongly recommend contracting with a professional – a bad DIY paint job can be worse than nothing at all.  And you’re likely to negotiate a better price if you are painting both exterior and interior.

Landscaping adds a soft, warm element of charm to an already-beautiful home, and it can often compensate for the physical deficiencies of a plainer house.  Lawns, plants and trees should always complement the house itself, not stand out or compete.  Work with what you have – trim hedges, shape trees, clean out beds and mulch — before adding new plantings, as these are a dead giveaway that a property has been staged.  Always maintain your lawn, walkways and driveway, and be ever ready for a drive-by or showing.

Be mindful of your neighborhood and its character.  You want your house to stand out in a good way, not like a sore thumb.  Most prospective buyers will be drawn to your neighborhood first, house second.  (You know, “Location” etc.) Your exterior presentation should complement your neighbors’ homes. Don’t present an immediate disconnect for them by creating something too “unique.”  If your house is already unique, don’t try to turn it into something it’s not.  Celebrate it for what it is and remember that there is a buyer for every home.

Your agent will hire a professional photographer to create marketing assets for print and on-line advertising.  This is where your prospective buyers get a first look and your chance to pique their interest.  Ideally, a full-on exterior shot should be the “hero” image.   Otherwise, it can send up a red flag to buyers that the house is ugly or has no curb appeal.   We work with what we have, of course, but a little attention to detail can go a long way in getting your house ready for its close-up.

Michael Mosca is a real estate agent with Mott & Chace Sotheby’s International Realty in Narragansett, Rhode Island.

Michael specializes in properties in coastal RI http://www.CoastalRIHome.com and he is a member of Our Trusted Network of Sotheby’s International Realty agents around the U.S. and across the globe http://www.OurTrustedNetwork.com