Time to put your home up for sale? Show it off with exterior improvements that will impress potential buyers and increase its market value. Enhancing your home’s curb appeal can help it sell for up to 10% more than neighboring properties, and is well worth the investment.
Here are the top exterior home improvements to consider before your big move:
Your home tells a story—but so does all the dirt and grime that have accumulated over the years. Refresh a dull exterior with a professional power wash and get your home into sparkling-clean condition again. This simple update can give you a 40-110% return on investment, depending on how dirty things were to begin with.
When a buyer looks at your home, they want to see a fresh slate for the life they’ll be living in it—not layers of cracked, peeling, and dingy paint. A pristine coat is an instant pick-me-up for a tired exterior and one of the best returns you can get on investment. Whether you do a few touch-ups yourself or hire a pro for the job, stick to neutral colors and high-quality paint. This update can give you a 60-100% ROI.
An attractive front door can really make a statement. Give it a fresh coat of paint for maximum impact: it’s simple, cost-effective, and can be done in a single afternoon. The color doesn’t have to be neutral, but it shouldn’t be jarring, either. Consider a vibrant red, calming blue, or cheerful yellow—just as long as it complements the rest of your home. Updating your door can bring an 80-140% ROI. Add a beautiful flower pot or two, and the effect can be particularly charming.
You can get 80-120% ROI just by repairing rickety rails, sanding down splintered wood, or scrubbing and repainting a dirty deck. If your deck looks like it has fallen into disrepair, potential buyers will use it as a negotiating point against you. Repairing it yourself (or hiring a pro to do it) will more than pay for itself in the end.
Nothing will force you to sell below asking price faster than a crumbling, sagging, or leaky roof. Potential buyers don’t want to add roof repairs to their to-do list, so invest in a safe and solid roof before putting your house on the market. If your roof is in obvious disrepair, you can get a 50-110% ROI by prioritizing this update.
Finally, take a look at your lawn, your flower beds, and your trees and shrubs. Are there dead plants that need removing, overgrown trees that need trimming, or lawns that need mowing? Would planting fresh flowers add color and charm? Look at your green space with fresh eyes: even small updates can make your home seem more welcoming to potential buyers.