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Buying for looks may seem superficial, but the visual appeal is a big factor in purchasing a home. Since potential buyers react to your home as soon as they see it, you should give as much thought to staging the outside of your home as you do the interior. The goal of staging is to make your home appealing for sale, and goes far beyond cleaning and de-cluttering an area to make it appealing to others. Statistics indicate that in the U.S., a well-staged home can add 6 to 20% more to the price of an empty or un-staged home, so retaining the services of a professional to enhance the appearance can be a good investment. Since better curb appeal gets more people inside to evaluate the living space, the staging should flow outside too. Whether you are hiring a pro or are doing it yourself, how should you approach the outside of your home? Staging The Outside of Your Home By Updating Your Garage Door Since your garage door can account for over 40% of your home's exterior, a garage door in bad condition on a house for sale might as well be a giant billboard that proclaims to homebuyers "Drive on by!" Whether the door is discolored, has peeling paint, a broken window, or an obvious misalignment, an outdated garage door can be a negative factor in curb appeal. According to the annual survey from Remodeling Magazine called Costs vs. Value, replacing your garage door is a good investment no matter where you are in the country. While you might spend $1,500 for a basic doublewide door of single-layer embossed steel with a baked on finish, galvanized steel hinges, nylon rollers, and a 10-year warranty, you are likely to recoup over $1,200 or 83.7%. If you go the extra mile and spend $2,800 for a door of the same size that has foam insulation equivalent to a minimum R-12, insulated windows in the top section, thermal seals between pinch resistant panels, galvanized steel hinges, ball bearing rollers, and a lifetime warranty, you might get over $2,300 or 82.9% back. Replacing the door gives you the chance to update the color, improve the quality of trim on it, add stylish windows, and improve its ability to keep the house warm. These touches not only make your home look fresh, but add style and function as well. If your door is a distraction to those looking at your home, put replacing it high in your list. Other Outdoor Curb Appeal While updating your garage door is a big wow factor, there are plenty of other things you need to do as well. • The Basics: Make sure windows are clean, lawns are freshly mowed and trimmed, pet droppings are gone, and garden beds refreshed with new mulch. Until your home sells, you need to be continuously diligent in outside maintenance. • The Expensive Necessities: To ensure that your home looks as nice as your garage door, consider painting the outside or replacing siding, which can return between 78.2 and 87% in resale value. Even if the siding is in good condition, perk up the trim. And make sure your roof is in good shape too, as one that needs work often shows it and sabotages your curb appeal factor. Replacing the roof might yield a 63% to 67.6% ROI, but your numbers will vary, based on location. • The Wow Factor: Adding annuals and perennials, placing plants on the porch, and updating your landscaping makes an obvious statement about your home. Make sure your patio furniture is attractively staged too. Hopefully, your home will sell quickly. By staging the outside of your home, you will increase the chances that it will.
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