Curb Appeal

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Mather RoadIt’s Showtime! That’s what I tell sellers when we go live with their Austin real estate on the Austin Multiple Listing Service, Realtor.com, Austinhomesearch.com and about 100 more websites.  Showtime for one of my Austin listings generally includes a sign in the yard with a text rider for color pictures and data.  Before the marketing begins, the outside work need to be finished because the exterior of the house will set the stage for what’s inside.

A showing starts at the street

Listing appointments are more than just about the paperwork, market data and pricing.  I tour the home with a buyer’s eyes pointing out things along the way that have often been there for so long the owner doesn’t even see them anymore.  My suggestions start from the street, not inside the house.  I tell sellers all of the time that I want the house to look ‘light, bright and happy.’ I want people to feel good when they visit one of my listings from the moment they pull up to the house.  Whether a potential buyer is just driving home from work or a buyer’s agent is showing a property, the goal is to get the buyer to come inside because they want to see more.

Add curb appeal to your Austin home

Here are some tips to get your home show ready or maybe just a little happier:

  • Replace dead plants with flowers
  • Store garage and recycling containers on the side of the house or in the garage.  Not only does this increase curb appeal, it also aids in parking in front of the house.
  • Put the garden hose away when not in use.  Buyers don’t want to be walking over it to get to the front door.
  • Paint your mail box and door knocker (if rusting) with some metallic paint.
  • Replace the door mat.
  • Hose off the front of the house (you can power wash but just be prepared to paint)
  • Clean the gutters
  • Rake and sweep dead leaves

Added Steps Austin Buyers Appreciate

Want to go the extra mile?  Most home buyers would like to have a green thumb, but not everyone does.  Buyers do appreciate and see the appeal when home owners go the extra mile and plant drought resistant plants.  With water restrictions already in place throughout most of Central Texas, using native plants and grasses that are heat and drought tolerant shows a buyer that the owner was thinking ahead.  Buyers will know they won’t be replanting plants in a year or won’t need to water excessively.

Curb appeal can make all of the difference in getting a buyer inside a house and getting it sold.