The importance of curb appeal.
First impressions apply to more than a handshake at your first interview or getting glammed up for a date, but also to your home too. When selling a house, keeping the property’s curb appeal to a high standard is a must. In the Philippines, capital appreciation on houses has rocketed and with prices continuing climb – it’s truly a seller’s market. And, by adding a better first impression to your home you can potentially add more pesos to your selling price.
Tips to add even more value to your home through the power of curb appeal.
- Get less personal. This may seem contradicting to what makes a house feel like a home, but removing personal items allows potential buyers to envisage your house as their home. Clear front porches of bicycles, free the yard of outdoor equipment and children’s toys.
- Add natural colour. Adding colour is suggested in the form of live plants. By placing seasonable flowers on your porch, window boxes and front beds your property will receive an instant lift. Complement the bedding flowers with a bit of dark mulch to help brighten up the front space too.
- Open up. When taking a look at a house from the outside in, homes present a more welcoming appearance when the shutters are placed open along with window blinds and curtains. This simple step creates a big effect on the overall appearance of your house.
- Minor details. Take time to review the small details often overlooked in day-to-day life. Freshen up window trim and door frames with paint, make sure the address numbers are big, bright and visible and renew the porch lights with a charming look to welcome in guests.
- Quality photos. Lastly and perhaps most importantly, curb appeal begins before physically seeing a property in person. The first impression of a house actually starts with the photos posted on the Internet, where 88 percent of home buyers begin their search for a new home, according to Home and Garden Television Visited. Overcast days provide the best setting for photos, as direct light tends to add an orange effect and unwanted shadows.
Use these tips to spruce up your home and leave a lasting impression with potential buyers, whether they first see photos of the property on the Internet or are simply driving by the neighbourhood, and gain appreciation for your home in more ways than one.
