You have certainly heard the term “property curb appeal.” If you have decided to sell your home in Minocqua or anywhere really, this will be on your mind. Every real estate article will tell you the importance of having great curb appeal. Well, what does that actually mean? Is it truly just pretty flowers and a mowed lawn? Yes and no!
Buyers are attracted to the yard, but to really capitalize on the visual appeal of your home, you need to go further than a few border pansies.
Curb appeal starts on the drive up. I’m sure you have driven down a street and hoped that the listing you’re going to see isn’t the purple house with the peeling paint. Now that’s an extreme, but it illustrates the point. Buyers will see your home from a distance before they even park. It’s especially important to buyers looking for homes in Minocqua and Northern Wi priced over $300,000, the look of the community becomes more important as the price range rises.
Drive down the street and up to your house. What is the first thing you see? Using a critical eye, pay attention to the way the home appears from the street. Are the plants trimmed and fresh? Are you missing roof tiles or could the trim use touch up paint? Does the home seem welcoming and warm?
Now walk up to your front door. It should be easy to access from the driveway and street. The front door should be open to the street and well lit. Cut back tree limbs or heavy vines which block the view to the street. The most common need is a simple garden sprucing – a weekend project for most sellers.
So many of our Northern Wisconsin area homes have great front yard spaces; if you have a front porch, take advantage of it. Use staging techniques and add some chairs and flower pots. Demonstrate to the buyers the relaxing lifestyle your home offers. Again, make sure there is adequate lighting and an airy feel to the porch.
So what if you are on a busy street and can’t really create a quiet, peaceful entrance? In this case, you might need to take larger steps. Remember that selling your Northern Wisconsin home is one of the largest financial transactions in your life. It might make sense to put a little money into your home to realize the greatest financial gain and sales price.
You might consider a fence or natural landscaping to create privacy. While this goes against the previous advice to have the home open and visible to the street, if the need is to have a more peaceful environment, then it could make a difference. Street noise can be muffled by a relaxing fountain. Turning the entry into a private front courtyard could show buyers that your home offers an oasis from the hustle and bustle which is so much a part of the lifestyle of Northern Wisconsin.
Curb appeal is really just using your own sense of home and translating that into a front entrance to your home. At a minimum, everything should appear to be low maintenance and tidy. If you are unsure about what else to do, talk with your agent. If you have a unique challenge, then bringing in a professional stager could also make sense.
Buyers fall in love with a home from the driveway. Curb appeal beckons your Northern Wisconsin buyers inside to see your special home.
View some Property Curb Appeal Before and Afters from Pinterest
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