Take a moment to observe the front of your house. What do you see? Now picture it through the mind of a visitor. A home’s curb appeal can influence a person’s opinion of what to expect inside.
“It’s the very first impression that a prospective buyer will have,’ says Cathy Lutz, REALTOR® and Associate Broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices First, REALTORS®. “Residential real estate is often emotionally driven. You love it, or you don’t. It’s a controllable element that helps to offset some of the things we can’t control.”
Lutz recommends homeowners step back and view their homes objectively in terms of color, contrast, and balance. Are overgrown shrubs dominating the front facade? Is the garden statuary too large or small for the home’s style? Is the paint color out of fashion? Does the front door color complement the house color?
“Relatable color, a pop of color contrast, and balance in scale and proportion are important,” Lutz explains. “Every home benefits from a pop of vibrancy or some degree of contrast. So, if your home is faced with materials in muted earth tones, consider a classic, darker color for the front door. Plant flowers in pots to welcome visitors and add vibrant color contrast. If your home is a newer home and/or is blessed to be wearing grey or white, an on-trend color combination, then look to keep it balanced. Don’t overdo your porch décor Let the fresh look you’ve created stand on its own.”
Lutz also recommends staying away from colors and decorations that are too personalized. If you’re a University of Kansas fan, you don’t want to turn off the K-State or Wichita State fan with your Jayhawk flag or statue.
One of Lutz’s clients had a front door painted Wildcat purple. A simple change to a deeper, eggplant color matched beautifully with the grey exterior without offending potential buyers who weren’t necessarily K-State fans.
“Every paint manufacturer does a good job of communicating the on-trend colors for front doors and exteriors,” she says. “So, lean into the advice of the paint professionals. They spend a lot of money researching what works with different regions and with different home styles. Trust the experts.”
Lutz adds, “In the Midwest. Classic colors and traditional looks are timeless. If it’s a wood door, does it need re-staining? There isn’t a wood door out there that couldn’t benefit from a fresh coat of varnish. Great curb appeal may position a home nearer the top of a Buyer’s list. And first-choice homes tend to receive better offers
What is the biggest turn-off for prospective buyers insofar as curb appeal ? According to Lutz, it’s deferred maintenance such as peeling paint, overgrown shrubs, damaged windows, torn screens, or a crumbling porch. She notes it doesn’t have to take a lot of time or money to freshen the paint on the front door and surrounding trim, cut down the vegetation, clean the windows, or repair the screens or sidewalk.
One often overlooked component to a home’s curb appeal is the mailbox. Lutz points out, “Buyers will see it. You may go to it every day and not give it a second thought. But if it’s all dinged up and on its last leg, buyers might extrapolate that’s how you care for your home.”
Next, check the outside lighting. Does the fixture need a fresh bulb or cleaned ? Sometimes a new light fixture is a simple change that can dramatically impact the entryway’s look. Plus, decorating with a simple doorknocker or seasonal wreath can round out a home’s welcoming appearance.
“People will forget an awful lot about houses they’ve toured. House hunting can be overwhelming sometimes. That final impression as a prospective purchaser drives away may be just as important as the first. She adds, “A buyer chooses a home, and they’re in escrow for thirty days, maybe more. In that time, you want to reinforce their good decision about their new home because there are bound to be hurdles to jump along the way. Every time they drive by (and they will drive by!), a really sharp exterior helps reassure them this was a great choice.”
