While you might have numerous goals in selling your South Carolina home, one of them is no doubt to secure a closing in as little time as possible. No one wants a house that they are trying to sell to linger on the market. There are several reasons this can happen. Some sellers price their homes too high. In other cases, homes do not get offers because they lack curb appeal.
The good news is that curb appeal is something you as a seller can control. Most buyers begin their home searches online. If you have a house listed on the market, you will no doubt upload photos that feature both the interior and exterior of your home. When looking at pictures or pulling up to your address, the outside of your home is the first thing people see. Curb appeal means that the outside of your home attracts attention and makes prospective buyers want to go inside to see more.
Boost curb appeal to get more offers
The following list includes a basic checklist that you can easily review before scheduling showings for your home:
- Gutters are clean and the roof is in good repair.
- Lawn, porches, patios, decks, etc., are free of debris and clutter.
- The grass is neatly mown.
- The exterior is enhanced with basic landscaping, such as flower beds or shrubs.
- Sidewalks, driveways and other hard surfaces are free of safety hazards, such as wide cracks or potholes.
- There is adequate lighting, especially at night.
The issues can be problematic if proper attention is not given to boost curb appeal. In fact, if the outside of your home is in disarray, buyers might not even get out of their car. On the other hand, a home for sale that looks great on the outside is going to attract a lot of attention.
Incorporate curb appeal on your special features sheet
Using a special features sheet highlights certain areas of your home that you want to be sure buyers are aware of when taking a tour. If your home has great curb appeal, list some of its best features on your special features sheet. For instance, if you have a beautiful swimming pool in the backyard, let buyers know about it.
Maybe you recently installed lightscaping along the walkways leading from the curb to your front door. This type of accent lighting is another special feature you’ll want to highlight on your sheet. You can also ask your real estate agent for recommendations on how to improve the outside look of your home. While curb appeal alone may not sell your house, it definitely helps increase your chances of getting an offer.