When it comes to selling a home, first impressions make a huge difference. And sometimes, you only have one shot to convince a potential buyer to take a look at your home and step inside it. You want your property to have a “wow” factor to entice them to inquire further.

This is where your curb appeal comes in. Curb appeal refers to the aesthetic look of the home's exterior when you view it from the street. A home with great curb appeal means it is attractive even at first glance—a well-kept yard, no peeling paint, no missing or damaged roof shingles—and gives an impression that it is being taken care of. 

Many prospective buyers would refuse to go beyond the walkway when they don’t like what they see outside. Likewise, they’d scroll past your listing photos if they don’t find the exterior of your home attractive, especially in today’s competitive market where how a home looks online can greatly influence a buyer’s interest.

This is why your curb appeal needs a refresh before you sell your home. Putting an effort into cleaning and sprucing up your home’s exterior is another way to boost your property’s value and help sell it faster. 

Here are 12 simple, easy-to-implement, but proven ways to improve your curb appeal and set your potential buyers’ expectations. 

Reminders

• Finish any project that you started.

Once buyers come to your home and see any of your unfinished curb appeal projects, they might think that you neglected such an important home maintenance task, even if it isn't really your intention. They might even wonder what other repair tasks you’ve left unfinished.

• Pay attention to how your home looks at night.

Because some potential buyers drive by houses in the evening, you have to make sure that your home is just as attractive at night as it is during the day. The right lighting can make your home look incredible in evening listing photos, and adds security and safety as well. 

• Put yourself in the buyer’s shoes.

Stand outside your property and look at it as if you were the potential buyer visiting for the first time. Tour around and take note of your first impression of the house and yard. Does it look clean and tidy? What’s the first thing you noticed about the property? What makes it attractive? What could be improved? 

Together with your realtor, look at your home with a fresh perspective so you can work on the areas that need to be improved to entice more buyers to look at your property and submit an offer.

• Even the smallest things make a big impact.

If you think you can’t make improvements to your home’s exterior because of a tight budget, don’t be discouraged. Buyers pay attention to even the smallest of details. This is why simple tasks such as decluttering your yard, hiding the trash cans and other eyesores, updating your mailbox, or repainting the fence, could make a huge impact on your home’s curb appeal.