If you’re trying to sell your house in the near future, here are curb appeal projects that’ll give you the most bang for your buck!
We put a lot of time and energy into making our houses look and feel like… well, a home. Usually, most of our focus is on the interior and how we decorate it, but when you’re trying to sell a house, you have to remember to spend some time boosting your home’s curb appeal!
The yard is the first thing people see when they go to a property and if the exterior is a mess, they’ll wonder if the interior is as neglected as the outside. Don’t let that happen to your home! In HomeLight’s Spring 2022 top agent insights, if you spent $3,467 (the average amount homeowners spend) to improve your home’s curb appeal, you could see the value of your home increase by $11,718!
Here are the projects that can (and will) add big bucks to your home’s resale value.
1. Basic lawn care
At the bare minimum, you should be doing basic lawn care tasks like mowing the lawn, using fertilizer and grass seed to fill in bald spots, and implementing some kind of weed control. Surveyed real estate agents said that for homeowners who spend a meager $340 annually on their lawn care, the resale value could increase by 539% (or $1,833) in resale value.
2. Lay fresh mulch
Of all the things we do to spruce up the yard, laying fresh mulch in flower beds and around trees can make a world of a difference. Something about the fresh mulch makes any work you do look that much more crisp and clean. Homeowners typically choose black or brown mulch to achieve that classic look; but, if you want a pop of color, red mulch is sure to make a statement. To lay mulch, the average cost is around $275, but when all is said and done, it can increase the resale value by 536% (or $1,474).
3. New garage door
If you have a garage, replacing the existing garage door with a new one at the average cost of $1,200 can add 133% (or $2,797) in resale value. Be mindful of the color and style of the door because you want to choose a design that compliments the style of your home!
4. Exterior paint
Much like the interior, a fresh coat of paint can be a huge game-changer – especially if you go from a dull or faded shade of pink or yellow from the 70s and update it to a modern blue-grey, white, or beige. On average, homeowners can spend around $3,000 to paint the exterior, but it can increase the resale value by 152% (or $7,751).
5. Upgrading landscaping features
Upgrading your home’s landscaping is going to be the most expensive project you can do and it’ll add the least in resale value. You may spend an average of $4,500 on upgrading the landscaping, it’ll only add to the resale value by 39% (or $6,235). With that said, a new patio, resealed driveway, new plants, and an updated porch can do a lot in terms of catching a buyer’s eye.
Any home improvement project can really pay off
As a homeowner, it’s not uncommon to find a bunch of projects that could be done in order to improve the look and feel of the interior. While it’s fine to spend money on making improvements on the inside, you can’t forget to dedicate time and money on the outside. That’s the first thing people see when they come to your house so it’s a good idea to wow them! Even if you don’t have the money to revamp your entire yard, just doing basic lawn maintenance can make a difference!
