As a seller preparing to sell your North Shore home, you may be busily emptying closets and painting walls, but don’t forget about the outside of your house. Home buying is emotional and, like many emotional reactions, it can be heavily impacted by first impressions.

Here are some suggestions on how to encourage love at first sight by increasing the curb appeal of your North Shore home:

 

1. Tidy up

You may be so used to seeing the crumbling stack of firewood by the garbage cans and the old paint cans by the shed that they fade into the landscape, but potential homeowners see the mess.

As you look at the outside of your house, think about what you can throw away or put out of sight. The broken swing on the tree actually takes away from the grandeur of that old oak.

An extra hint: Not everyone will enjoy the garden gnome collection as much as you do.

2. Trim Everything

If the hedges under the front windows of your North Shore home are so unruly that they cover the windows, it’s past time to find the clippers.

3. Repair the Pathway to the Door

If you have crumbling cement or stepping stones that slide deeper into the mud with every raindrop, check into updating the front pathway so that it is inviting, safe, and weed-free.

4. Give the House and Decks a Wash

Hire a reputable company to wash the exterior of the house and decks so they look fresh and sparkling.

I can personally recommend the Eco-House Wash Company, I have pre-negotiated rates for my clients. Contact me for further information.

5. Clean the gutters

Tiny trees growing in your gutters scream “Water damage!” to potential buyers.

6. Paint

If the paint is peeling on the outside of your house, potential buyers go in wondering what the upkeep is like inside. Spend money before you put your home on the market to get a better sale price and quicker purchase.

If you absolutely can’t afford to paint the whole house, consider painting the window frames and front door for a fresher look.

7. Make Friends with Mulch

If your green thumb is actually brown, and your garden sports a post-apocalyptic motif, consider the wonders of mulch. It covers up that patch under the oak where the grass won’t grow.

Buy a few simple plants and mulch around them to achieve a calm canvas on which gardeners can imagine more complex plantings, while those with challenged gardening skills can envision easy maintenance.

The theme of all these tips is to create an image of your home as a place of order, calm and cleanliness; a place where prospective home buyers feel comfortable and cozy.

Whether you’re ready to sell or need more information before taking the plunge, I can help. Give me a call today at 021 85 84 83 or email me at jason.yianakis@harcourts.co.nz