Do It Yourself Home Staging Tips to Improve Curb Appeal

When a potential San Mateo home buyer pulls up to your house, the first thing they see is the front of your home. Some even use the outside to judge whether or not to get out of their car and go inside. Therefore, it is important to spend some time sprucing up the front of your home to create an inviting curb appeal so buyers will come inside and see everything your home has to offer.

Do It Yourself Tips to Improve Curb Appeal

We know not everyone has the money to spend thousands of dollars on staging. Here are some inexpensive, do-it-yourself tips to make your San Mateo home look good.

• Clean up the garden. Make sure the lawn is mowed, foliage and hedges are trimmed and dead plants are removed. If your lawn has brown spots, get some fertilizer from a local garden store and water the lawn regularly to try to revive it. Try to do this as soon as you think you may want to sell your home.
  
• Declutter. If there are toys the kids haven’t played with, gardening equipment that is laying around, furniture that looks weathered or is cluttering up the yard, get rid of it. Don’t let a potential buyer get distracted with junk in the yard. Make your front yard as clean and open as possible, which will make your home the first thing buyers see when they pull up to your San Mateo home.
  
• Paint. If your San Mateo home is in need of an exterior paint job, we suggest you invest the time and money and get that done. Paint can make more of an impact than any other one factor. If your San Mateo home doesn’t need an entire exterior paint job, but has some trouble spots, you may want to just do some touch up work to fix peeling paint around doors and windows. If you have to paint the exterior, pick a neutral color and consider using accent colors for door and window trim.
  
• Clean the windows and siding. Make sure your windows are clean and free dirt and debris. Washing the windows can make a huge difference inside and out and will allow more natural light to enter your home. If you cannot get your screens clean after spraying them off, store them in the garage so your windows appear clean. Also, you may consider pressure washing any siding around your home.
  
• Buy a new welcome mat. A new welcome mat is an inexpensive way to make your home look inviting, while keeping your floors clean. And, you can take it with you when you go!
  
• Clean the gutters and downspouts. Simple things like clearing your downspouts and gutters, especially when it is summer, shows you take good care of your home. It shouldn’t take more than a few hours and a bit of elbow grease.
  
• Add some new bright colored flowers and plants. Go to a garden supply store and get some bright colored flowers and plants. You can add them to your garden if you already have one, or you can buy a planter you can put on your porch which will add a cheerful touch. You can also pack up the planter and bring it with you to your new house.
  
• Get rid of cobwebs and other evidence of pests. Cobwebs can make a house look unkempt. Clean off the corners of porches and ceilings and spray for spiders to keep them from returning.
  
• Make the home visible in day or night. Potential buyers will be driving by your house day and night. Make sure your house number is clearly visible and repaint or replace it if necessary. You don’t want potential buyers getting frustrated and driving away before they’ve had a chance to see your San Mateo home. Since many potential buyers drive by at night, you may consider putting outdoor lights with a timer that goes on automatically.
  
• Get rid of old cars. Buyers don’t like to see old clunkers in the driveway.
  

What About the Backyard?

It is also important to spend a little time in the backyard as well. Although it isn’t the first thing a potential buyer sees when they pull up to your house, it is still important. Clean up debris, make sure everything works properly, plant some new flowers, etc. Also, if you have a patio, you may want to consider setting it up with a patio table and chairs to make it look relaxing and inviting. Allow buyers to see themselves living comfortably in your home.

Thinking About Selling Your San Mateo County Home in Today’s Market?

These are just a few of the tips we can offer to our San Mateo County sellers to help them get their home sold quickly in today’s market. Call or email us today at (650) 655-2500 or info[@]raychelrealtygroup.com for a free, no obligation consultation and we’ll help give you a realistic expectation of what you can expect to get for your San Mateo County home.

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