{"id":15218,"date":"2020-03-25T13:48:03","date_gmt":"2020-03-25T20:48:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=15218"},"modified":"2025-05-29T09:40:59","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T16:40:59","slug":"buyer-how-much-value-does-curb-appeal-add","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-how-much-value-does-curb-appeal-add\/","title":{"rendered":"Exactly How Much Value Does Sprucing Up Your Curb Appeal Add?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you hear the term \u201ccurb appeal,\u201d you probably see a specific home in your mind\u2019s eye \u2014 but have you ever stopped to ask yourself how much that white picket fence cost to install, or what that homeowner spends on fresh annual flowers<\/a> every year?<\/p>\n

New homebuyers typically walk through the front door with a list of projects they want to do to make it \u201ctheirs.\u201d If you added items related to curb appeal to your list, it\u2019s fair to ask yourself: how much value does curb appeal add? We all want to get value for our money, and a home is your biggest investment. So let\u2019s dig into it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Source: (Artazum \/ Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Why curb appeal matters<\/h2>\n

The term \u201ccurb appeal\u201d refers to the first impression that people get of your home. When they pull their car up in front, what do they see? Well-kept flower beds, a neatly cut lawn, and fresh paint? Or weeds, overgrown grass, and chipping paint?<\/p>\n

Agent Howard Watts<\/a>, who works as part of a team in Michigan, thinks that \u201cFirst impressions are critical. It\u2019s why we spend a lot of time with our seller clients making sure that they do the most they can to create a positive first impression.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many homebuyers view curb appeal as an indication of how meticulous you are keeping up other parts of your house. They reason that if you take pride of ownership on the exterior, that carries through to the home\u2019s interior. Watt\u2019s partner, Glenda Gerbstadt<\/a>, says that great curb appeal can help sellers beat out a similar home on the market, or even command a premium.<\/p>\n

Why buy a house that lacks curb appeal?<\/h2>\n

When you were home shopping, your agent might have pointed out a neighbor\u2019s property if your home lacked curb appeal. It\u2019s what Watts does to help his buyers envision a place spruced up<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cProviding you don\u2019t mind spending the time and money to improve curb appeal, you can get a really good deal on the neighborhood\u2019s ugly duckling,\u201d he points out. If the house lacked curb appeal when you bought it, it probably turned away other potential buyers.<\/p>\n

Now is time to figure out how much value curb appeal adds so you can make more when you do sell<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Plants<\/a>
Source: (Markus Spiske \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What goes into curb appeal<\/h2>\n

What falls under the umbrella term, \u201ccurb appeal?\u201d Things that relate to the home\u2019s structure and overall appearance.<\/p>\n

The house itself<\/h3>\n

Take a walk around your home\u2019s exterior. Do you see broken windows or shutters, or holes in the screens? Replacing them one at a time is more cost-effective than tackling them all at once. Window replacement starts at $200 per window<\/a> and replacing and installing a new screen ranges from $133 to $457<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Touch up chipped or peeling paint, and pressure-wash stucco or siding to keep it looking fresh. You can rent a pressure washer from a local hardware store and do it yourself in just one afternoon, or pay a professional $0.08 to $0.35<\/a> per square foot.<\/p>\n

Are your gutters sagging or detaching from the fascia? Gutter repairs and screen replacements can be less than $200 but have a big payoff when thinking of things to do to sell a house<\/a>. Fixing these issues protects your home\u2019s foundation<\/a> from water damage, conserves heat, and increases your curb appeal.<\/p>\n

Along with cleaning out gutters, fix any loose shingles on the roof. A house\u2019s roof protects everything beneath it, and buyers worry about signs of deterioration. Replacing a roof<\/a> can cost $4,000 or more, depending on your roof\u2019s size, age, and the number of gables and eaves. While it\u2019s an expensive fix, many buyers avoid homes that require a lot of work.<\/p>\n

In Gerbstadt\u2019s opinion, \u201cwell-maintained is the biggest aspect of subjective curb appeal.\u201d If your home\u2019s exterior doesn\u2019t imply that you\u2019ve kept up on maintenance, she says that any prospective buyers already have an opinion about the property and will be asking themselves what else you didn\u2019t maintain.<\/p>\n

Landscaping<\/h3>\n

Once springtime rolls around, you can do more outside. A beautiful front lawn<\/a>, with fresh-cut grass and colorful flowers, entices people to stop and linger. Watts likes nice, clean beds, and advises perennials if you want something that won\u2019t be a lot of work. HomeLight\u2019s research indicates that a well-landscaped<\/a> exterior can boost a home\u2019s value between 1% and 5%.<\/p>\n

Keep up with the mowing and weeding, or consider an eco-conscious choice like a wildflower or rock garden in place of grass. Refresh mulch around flowers, trees, and bushes, and keep them trimmed and nicely shaped. HomeLight\u2019s Q2 Top Agent Insights Report<\/a> backs this up: over 84% of agents agree that sellers should install fresh mulch<\/a> and over 85% recommend trimming trees and shrubs before selling.<\/a><\/p>\n

Older, mature trees<\/a> and shrubs give you the most value. Shrubs alleviate the need to purchase annuals to fill in gaps in flower beds. Taller trees can block unsightly views \u2014 like the broken trampoline in your neighbor\u2019s backyard.<\/p>\n

Book an arborist as part of your annual home maintenance plan<\/a> to keep your trees healthy. Arborists know which branches to trim back or remove to encourage healthy growth, and they can recommend a spray program to control insects. Aerating roots ensures that they receive enough oxygen. Mature trees cost thousands of dollars, but some gardeners estimate that they add thousands of dollars<\/a> to your home\u2019s value.<\/p>\n

If your ultimate goal is to list the house for sale, too much landscaping can turn off buyers, so avoid complex, high-maintenance designs. Buyers might worry about the time and money involved in upkeep. As well, landscaping styles that don\u2019t fit the home or neighborhood \u2014 like a rock garden in New England or formal designs around a Cape Cod \u2014 will detract from its overall appeal.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s much easier and cheaper to improve curb appeal slowly over time rather than all at once. The average homebuyer stays in their home for 13 years before selling<\/a>, so make your list of improvements and strategize.<\/p>\n

Lighting<\/h3>\n

Adding exterior lighting<\/a> brightens and warms your home\u2019s appearance. Hard-wired lights in landscaped beds, pointing upwards, can highlight beautiful windows or landscaping even if a homebuyer visits at night.<\/p>\n

Choose bulbs that are bright enough for outside, or consider adding solar lights along pathways. Lighting improves both appearance and safety, preventing someone from tripping over an uneven walkway. An agent won\u2019t have to fumble for a key in the dark when bringing by potential buyers.<\/p>\n

Can you add it up?<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s tough to say exactly how much value curb appeal can add to a house; a lot depends on the home\u2019s state when you moved in. If the outside of your new home already looked nice, you probably don\u2019t have much to do and will see a minimal value boost from improvements. But if you bought the ugly duckling, turning it into a swan could massively bump up your home\u2019s value.<\/p>\n

Even if you can\u2019t quantify how much value curb appeal adds in numbers, top agents say it\u2019s a worthwhile investment. Many homeowners find that they enjoy outdoor maintenance projects and gardening, especially when the weather\u2019s nice. And, you\u2019ll get to enjoy living in a prettier home in the meantime.<\/p>\n

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