4 Curb Appeal Mistakes to Avoid

Buyers judge a home based on its exterior appearance. It’s just the way the world works. Because of this, homeowners must evaluate their home’s curb appeal before they get too bogged down by the selling process. However, there are some mistakes homeowners might make when trying to boost the curb appeal. Whatever you do, don’t hurt your home’s chances of making a good first impression. Here are some of the most common curb appeal mistakes homeowners make and how to avoid them.

Dead Plants and Grass

Not taking care of the lawn and garden is a huge game killer. Now, we’re not talking about seasonal browning and die-offs. Buyers searching in the winter get it when the grass is a little dull and crackly. But even in the colder months, it is obvious when a lawn or garden is dead or not tended. It can take much time, effort, and money to reverse that damage.

Unless the home is advertised as a fixer-upper, home buyers want to purchase a home that requires as little additional work as possible. Up until the sale, homeowners must ensure they take care of their home’s exterior. This means watering the lawn and garden, weeding, pruning shrubs, adding plants as needed, and so on. Get rid of the dead branches, shrubs, and flower pots. If you’re keen on replacing dead plants, try native plants that need less attention once established.

Obvious Necessary Repairs

Always avoid deferred maintenance. It can be a big turn-off for buyers. Homeowners should do what they can to repair anything that is obviously broken when preparing the home for sale. This can be anything from peeling paint to cracked pavement. A few other examples of things that should be fixed:

• Broken windows
• Torn window or door screens
• Damage from insects
• Warped or missing siding
• Damaged or missing roof shingles

Homeowners need to look at their homes with a keen eye and identify all problem areas before they put their homes up for sale. Handling these repairs beforehand protects the home’s curb appeal and improves the first impression with buyers.

Poor Paint Choices

If the home has wood siding or other wood accents, there’s a good chance that the wood is painted. Be careful about the color you choose for your home because some colors make homes harder to sell than others. Bright or unusual colors are typically the biggest culprits. We’re talking yellow or purple tours, or bright seafoam shutters.

When choosing a paint color for a home’s exterior, the best choice is a color that fits in with the rest of the neighborhood or is generally neutral. Some homeowners associations (HOA) give homeowners a pre-approved list of colors to choose from to ensure that the color they select is appropriate for the neighborhood.

Clutter in the Yard

People who enjoy gardening or homeowners with kids may be guilty of leaving things in their yards. This can be anything from bags of mulch to bicycles. When a yard is cluttered, buyers get distracted by everything they see, and they often judge the home based on the clutter in the yard instead of the yard itself. When the house is listed, stay on top of their cleaning and put all the yard toys and tools away when they’re done being used. Cleaning the yard is a simple and quick activity that homeowners do to help ensure their curb appeal doesn’t suffer.

Don’t let simple curb appeal mistakes turn away prospective buyers. That first impression greatly impacts how home buyers view the home. Giving it extra attention early on pays off later.

Updated November 2023