Boost Your Home's Curb Appeal With These Tips

In real estate, an attractive home exterior can potentially make or break a sale. If you are selling a home at the Lake of the Ozarks, consider the way your home looks from the street. Many potential buyers think homes that are attractive and well-maintained on the outside, will be polished and well-kept on the inside as well. Generally homes with high curb appeal, will command higher prices and take less time to sell. Devine & Associates offers some tips below on how to put your home's best face forward:

Clean the Home's Exterior


Wash the dirt, mildew, and any stains off the outside of your house. By just washing it, you can increase the sales price in some cases. A bucket of soapy water and a long-handled brush can remove the dust and grime that has accumulated onto your wood, vinyl, metal, stucco, brick, and fiber cement siding. Power washers can reveal the true color of your stone walkways. If you do not own one, you can rent one from your local home improvement store. Don't forget your windows. Clean them on both sides and wipe cobwebs from eaves. Hose down downspouts and scrub garage doors to remove dirt.

Touch Up the Paint Job


Many real estate agents may recommend giving the exterior of your home a good paint job because buyers will notice it and appraisers will value it. If re-painting is not in the budget or you don't have time for a complete facelift, your best bet is to match the paint you already have. Scrape off a little and ask your paint store to match it. Resist painting it a bold color that is not consistent with the neighborhood homes.

Check Out the Roof


Missing, rotted, or faded shingles will not add to the value or look of your house. If your neighbors have maintained or replaced their roofs, yours will look especially tattered. By just removing years of dirt, moss, and algae, you can make your tired roof look a lot better. 

Shape Up the Yard


Neaten your yard by adding fresh mulch and pruning the shrubs. Replace overgrown bushes with leafy plants and colorful annuals. Give your yard a rich feel to it, by spreading reddish-brown or dark bark mulch around the bushes and trees. Edge garden beds, pull invasive weeds and vines, and plant a few brightly-colored flowers in pots. Green up your lawn with fertilizer and water. Cover bare spots with seed and sod, remove crabgrass, and mow regularly.

Add in Some Color


Adding just a splash of color can attract potential buyers. Colorful touches won't add value to your home, but will enhance the curb appeal and may help you sell it faster. Try planting orange lilies that will bloom in summer or place a brightly colored bench on your front porch.


Do Some General Maintenance


Examine your home and look for obvious items that need to be repaired, such as hanging gutters, missing bricks from the front steps, or peeling paint. If these deferred maintenance items are not repaired, they can decrease the value of your home. Here are some maintenance items that can enhance the look of your home:
  • Refasten sagging gutters
  • Repoint bricks that have lost their mortar
  • Reseal cracked asphalt
  • Straighten shutters
  • Replace cracked windows

Devine & Associates Can Help You Make a Great First Impression


Your home's exterior, including the front entry, yard, driveway and sidewalk is a snapshot of what's to come when potential buyers view your home. By creating a sparkling exterior, you are inviting them inside of your Lake of the Ozarks home. If you are ready to make a great first impression with your home, contact Devine & Associates at (573) 392-9900, and get your home on the market today!

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