Curb appeal is the feeling that people get when they drive past your house. Is the landscaping maintained or overgrown? Is the front door faded or vibrant? Is the driveway smooth or full of potholes? The exterior presentation of your property sets the tone for the buyer experience when you are selling your home.

It’s important to have “drive-by” curb appeal when your house is on the market, which is common knowledge. However, many sellers are surprised when we show them that the concept of curb appeal applies to the whole exterior presentation of the property.

Recently I met with a seller who wanted to get her house ready for sale. I drove by the property, and it looked neat, tidy, and well-maintained from the “curb” view. A closer look at the exterior, however, revealed many exterior flaws that would be fatal if I was a buyer.

Here are the three things that need repair prior to getting your house on the market:

1. Rot on garage door trim. This is very common. If the wood can’t be salvaged, then the trim needs to be replaced.

2. Sinking front steps and walkway. This, too, is very common. Over time, concrete front steps sink into the ground and the paved walkways can shift.

3. Garage door damage. It’s not surprising that some people have backed into their garage door when it’s still closed leaving a dent. Also, it’s common to have a broken window (hockey puck or baseball).

In these examples, the curb appeal of the house extends all the way to the front door for buyers. Driving up to the house and then walking to the front door sets the tone for the interior of the house. If the first impression is that the exterior of the house has been neglected, then the interior of the house will be scrutinized for any signs of deferred maintenance as well.

If you’ve been thinking about selling and want to get your house on the market, contact us to get started and we will ensure your exterior is in tip top shape to attract buyers from the first drive-by.