Curb appeal. Some houses have it and some don’t. In any case, yours should to increase your property value.
You could probably drive through any given neighborhood and find a handful of homes that stand above the rest, and they’re not always the biggest or newest ones. A 100-year-old 2-bedroom home could have more curb appeal than a newly built mansion.
So if it doesn’t have to do with home size or age, what exactly is curb appeal? And can it really increase your home’s value?
What is Curb Appeal and Why is It Important?
Curb appeal refers to the visual attractiveness of your home from the curb in front of the house. It’s the first thing visitors and potential buyers see when they pull up, and what gives them the first impression of your home.
Imagine two identical homes sitting right next to each other. One of the homes has been well maintained. It’s been freshly painted and the lawn is green and highly manicured. There are beautiful flowers in the flower beds, the windows are clean and unbroken, and there’s a nice wreath on the front door. It looks welcoming and inviting.
The home next door is another story. There’s a broken down car in the driveway, for a start. The grass is dry and overgrown. The flower beds are bursting with weeds instead of flowers. The paint is peeling, the shutters and falling off, and a broken window has been boarded up. It looks gloomy and forlorn.
If both of these homes were for sale, which one would you want to buy? The first home is bursting with curb appeal while the second home is extremely lacking.
Curb Appeal and Home Value
A recent study found that homes with excellent curb appeal sold for an average of 7% more than homes with poor curb appeal in the same neighborhood. In our example of our two neighboring houses, that would mean that if the home with the boarded up windows sold for $100,000, the neighboring house might sell for $107,000.
The state of the market definitely plays a role in the effect curb appeal has on home values. In a slower market, for example, buyers can afford to be choosier so the premium for a home with good curb appeal might be as much as 14%. On the other hand, raging markets diminish the impact curb appeal has on home values.
Boost Your Curb Appeal
The good news is that curb appeal can be added to homes that have been neglected with a little bit of time, money, and some elbow grease. Here are some quick ways to add curb appeal to your house:
- Clean up your yard by removing junk
- Spruce up the landscaping
- Plant some flowers
- Add a fresh coat of paint
- Replace burned out lightbulbs
- Fix anything that’s broken
- Add a wreath, flower pot, and welcome mat to your front door
Legacy Home Buyers is Here
Are you ready to sell your Dallas home, but it’s lacking in curb appeal? Legacy Home Buyers is here! We buy homes in Dallas, Texas, and the surrounding area. We pay cash for homes in any condition, and can close quickly. Contact us today to get an offer on your home!
