As a homeowner, we put a lot of work and money into making our house feel like home. Most of the time we focus our attention on the interior of our homes, but if you’re trying to sell your house, you need to tackle projects that’ll boost curb appeal. Curb appeal is so important because it’s the first thing people see when they’re buying a house.
If your curb appeal is lacking, potential buyers are going to wonder what else needs improvement. Once they start wondering that, you can pretty much kiss that buyer goodbye.
Don’t let that be the case with your home. According to HomeLight’s Spring 2022 top agent insights, the average homeowner can spend $3,467 to improve their home’s curb appeal. When they sell, it’s estimated that those improvements could add $11,718 to the resale value of the property.
If that sounds good to you, then these are the outdoor home improvement projects you should tackle this Spring.
1. Basic lawn care
The easiest thing we should be doing is basic lawn care, things like laying fertilizer, using some kind of weed control, and (of course) mowing the lawn regularly. Realtors estimate that if you’re spending $340 for lawn care, you have the potential to add $1,833 (539%) in resale value.
Want to maintain that ‘freshly-cut’ grass look all-year round in your property, without the worry for upkeep and regular maintenance? Artificial grass has surged in popularity among homeowners in recent years for this exact reason. UK industry leader Grass Warehouse cites fake grass turf’s durability and long-lasting look as some of the main reasons why people are making the switch in their front and rear garden spaces.
2. Lay fresh mulch
Fresh mulch is one of those things that you don’t think you need, but once the mulch is down and you step back… Wow. What a difference it can make! Most homeowners will opt for black or brown mulch, but if you’re an adventurous homeowner who loves color, red mulch will surely make a statement! By spending as little as $275 for mulch, that would add $1,474 (536%) to the resale value of your home.
3. New garage door
Homeowners with a garage can benefit greatly by installing a new garage door when they’re trying to sell their homes. A new garage door, on average, can cost around $1,200, but when it’s time to put the house on the market, it will add an estimated $2,797 (133%) to the value of your home.
4. Exterior paint
Over time, the exterior paint of your home is going to need some sprucing up. The elements aren’t kind and your paint will fade, start to chip or crack, and just look… gross. However, a $3,000 paint job on the exterior of your house can add $7,571 (152%) in resale value.
5. Upgrading landscaping features
Warning: Upgrading the landscaping features around your home is going to be one of the largest investments with the least return on investment. These upgrades include things like building new flower beds, planting shrubs, and revamping the walkway and/or driveway. Real estate agents estimate that these projects typically cost around $4,500 after all is said and done, but when it comes to resale value, it only adds $6,235 (39%).
Any home improvement project can really pay off
When you look around your home, you can probably see a bunch of projects that could be done before putting your house on the market. While those projects will make a difference, they won’t matter if no one wants to get past the front door.
Curb appeal is crucial when you’re trying to appeal to buyers. It’s the first thing they’ll see when they come to your house and if the curb appeal isn’t on point, they’ll assume the interior is going to look neglected, too. That’s why you should at least do the easiest tasks – basic lawn care and laying mulch. It may not be much, but if you do just those projects, you could add at least $3,400 to the value of your home.