You have certainly heard the term “curb appeal.” If you have decided to sell your primary
home in San Antonio or Austin, this will be on your mind. Every real estate article will tell you
the importance of having great curb appeal. Well, what does that actually mean? Is it truly just
pretty flowers and a mowed lawn? Yes and no!
Buyers are attracted to the yard, but to really capitalize on the visual appeal of your home, you
need to go further than a few border pansies.
Curb appeal starts on the drive up. I’m sure you have driven down a street and hoped that the
listing you’re going to see isn’t the purple house with the peeling paint. Now that’s an
extreme, but it illustrates the point. Buyers will see your home from a distance before they
even park. It’s especially important to buyers looking for homes in San Antonio or Austin
priced over $400,000, the look of the community becomes more important as the price range
rises.
Drive down the street and up to your house. What is the first thing you see? Using a critical
eye, pay attention to the way the home appears from the street. Are the plants trimmed and
fresh? Are you missing roof tiles or could the trim use touch up paint? Does the home seem
welcoming and warm?
Now walk up to your front door. It should be easy to access from the driveway and street. The
front door should be open to the street and well lit. Cut back tree limbs or heavy vines which
block the view to the street. The most common need is a simple garden sprucing – a weekend
project for most sellers.
So many of our San Antonio and Austin area homes have great front yard spaces; if you have a
front porch, take advantage of it. Use staging techniques and add some chairs and flower pots.
Demonstrate to the buyers the relaxing lifestyle your home offers. Again, make sure there is
adequate lighting and an airy feel to the porch.
So what if you are on a busy street and can’t really create a quiet, peaceful entrance? In this
case, you might need to take larger steps. Remember that selling your San Antonio or Austin
home is one of the largest financial transactions in your life. It might make sense to put a little
money into your home to realize the greatest financial gain and sales price.
You might consider a fence or natural landscaping to create privacy. While this goes against
the previous advice to have the home open and visible to the street, if the need is to have a
more peaceful environment, then it could make a difference. Street noise can be muffled by a
relaxing fountain. Turning the entry into a private front courtyard could show buyers that your
home offers an oasis from the hustle and bustle while still being in the heart of the urban life
of San Antonio and Austin.
Curb appeal is really just using your own sense of home and translating that into a front
entrance to your home. At a minimum, everything should appear to be low maintenance and
tidy. If you are unsure about what else to do, talk with your agent. If you have a unique
challenge, then bringing in a professional stager could also make sense.
Buyers fall in love with a home from the driveway. Curb appeal beckons your San Antonio and Austin buyers inside to see your special home.