- Create a Seating Area on the Porch - One of the main goals of staging a property for sale is to help potential buyers imagine themselves living in the home. Adding a small seating area to a front porch can help them picture themselves enjoying a sunny day at their new home.
- Upgrade Porch Lighting Fixtures - After you’ve spruced up the seating area, the next logical area to improve is the lighting. Even during the day, the right lighting fixtures can dramatically change the look and feel of your entryway.
- Power Wash the Driveway & Walkways - Blasting the dirt and grime from the driveway with a power washer is an especially satisfying way to improve curb appeal. If you’re dealing with older concrete, make sure to test a small area before committing to power washing the whole thing.
- Fence in Garbage Cans & Central A/C Units - There’s nothing worse than looking at someone else’s garbage, but what about the garbage cans? What about that big ugly A/C unit? Instead of leaving it to chance, some cheap vinyl fencing pieces can cover up unsightly garbage cans and A/C units in a matter of minutes.
- Add Dramatic Lighting to Highlight Landscaping - Installing hard-wired lighting will require an electrician, but you can install affordable solar lights yourself. Since your buyers might tour your home at dusk or in the evening and buyers often do night time “drive-bys” of homes they’re considering, adding dramatic lighting to highlight the landscaping can have a huge impact on after dark curb appeal.
- Install Decorative Window Shutters - Although they are almost always purely decorative these days, adding window shutters is a great way to add character to a home. Pricing can vary pretty widely, and, of course, functional shutters will be far more expensive than decorative shutters.
Remember, a little creativity goes a long way. With these ideas and a touch of effort, you can transform your home’s exterior into a showstopper, all while staying within your budget. Stay tuned for Part Three, where we’ll cover curb appeal upgrades for even bigger transformations!