Curb Appeal: Setting your home apart in 2023

Selling your home will take more preparation than it would have a year or two ago. Even with inventory still at historically low volumes, there are more homes for sale than there were at this time last year. That said, if a home has been sitting on the market for a while it could be a sign it may not be checking the right boxes for potential buyers. Let’s have a look at some Home Appeal items you can turn to, some will offer more return on investment than others.

“In a market where costs are still high and buyers can be a little choosier, it makes sense they’re going to really zero in on the homes that are the most appealing.”

Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at realtor.com:

Winning with Curb Appeal

It’s not always the “big budget” items that seal the deal. Some low-dollar items can help sell the home even if it’s not adding to the value of the home. Find smaller projects you can do yourself, trim the landscaping and touching up the trim are two examples of smaller projects that are inexpensive but add a positive experience to a buyer arriving for the first time.

“Curb-appeal projects make the property look good as soon as prospective buyers arrive. While these projects may not add a considerable amount of monetary value, they will help your home sell faster—and you can do a lot of the work yourself to save money and time.”

Investopedia

Choosing the right updates

Remember, you’re selling this home so the goal is to make it more marketable. Anything you do is for the next owner, not you. Refer to the chart above to see which updates might be the best fit for you. Your Realtor is likely to have a list of contractors that can help, don’t hesitate to reach out for some referrals.

Wrapping it up

We’re in a different market than last year, anything you can do to nudge a buyer toward your home is an absolute win. Odds are you can make a noticeable difference with some good old-fashioned elbow grease. For those items you cannot tackle, try reaching out to your trusted Realtor!