Curb appeal is the most critical part of staging a home because it’s the first impression.  If a potential Buyer doesn’t like it from a distance, they won’t even walk in the door to see it. Furthermore, as a Buyer walks closer to the entrance of a home, they are forming impressions of how well taken care of the house is and how they like it.  Having a Buyer forming a negative impression, getting in a rhythm of looking for problems or deciding that the home is too dated can cost 10-20% of the value in an offer or kill an offer before it happens.

Curb appeal staging can be broken into 3 parts.  The longer distance view from the street.  The walkway up to the house. Last is the entrance itself.  The video will go in depth into most of these items.

Long Distance Curb Appeal

1. Landscaping

Landscaping is oftentimes the most expensive piece of staging but it also gets the best Return on Investment. Your ROI is high on landscaping because it creates a view where there was none. It can make a boring home look attractive.  Landscaping also should be done with a landscaper who has a creative eye.  They must understand what plants do well with different exposures of the Florida sun.  Landscaping put in must be more mature as the Buyer who purchases for market value doesn’t have the ability to visualize how things will look in the future.  Last, landscaping should also be done from the inside out. Meaning how does the view look from the inside of the house when looking out various windows.

2. Paint the house

Out of date colors or blotchy old paint jobs should be addressed. Old paint = old house.  Dated colors = Buyers not walking in the door.

3. Roof pressure clean

Should be taken care of because will look grimy.  As a side note, landscaping should be put in after the roof pressure cleaned because chemicals can destroy the landscaping.  Protecting the landscaping should be discussed with the pressure cleaner.

4. Driveway pressure wash and paint

If the driveway looks yucky from the outside then a Buyer may not even come in.  If your driveway is stamped concrete, make sure a painter understands what type of paint to put on.  I’ve seen paint just peel off if the wrong material is painted on.

5. Landscaping to block any privacy or ugly points of vision

Strategic landscaping placement can block sight-lines of other homes and unsightly views.

6. Lush green grass

Brown or blotchy grass is a turnoff

Walkway

7. Ivy or foliage or wrought iron or sculpture points of interest to block blah stucco

Stucco or wood can appear very dull like looking at a prison wall.  Pretty points of interest can break that up and turn a negative into a positive.

8. Pressure clean walkway

Dirt or old paint in the walkway starts to form that first impression

9. Flowers with color and/or Orchids

Make your Buyers smile and want to come in.  Color is needed so not everything monochromatic green. Orchids are wonderful but must be blooming so your Buyers will see the color

10. Tall vase with color

Tall vases with color can add dimension to a home and break up a monochromatic colorway.  Very important if you have a wood frame home.  A buyer won’t concentrate so much on the wood if there is a lot of color.

11. Mulch

Red is usually better than brown/black for staging purposes. This is because it last longer and has more of a burst of color.

12. Fountain

Can create interest, beauty and sometimes drain out noise from a busy roadway

Entrance

13. Replace the white standard doorbell with something more substantial

A $14 white builder grade doorbell must be replaced.  Your buyer interacts with it and that visual and touch interaction is a strong first impression.  This is a less than $50 investment.  A Ring doorbell is fine but I think a decorative doorbell is best.

14. Fresh door mat with color

Spend $29 and get a good looking doormat.  Avoid rubber mats as hard to wipe your feet with.

15. Vases/flowers to add color

Add vases if burst of color needed

16. Door handle without rusted spots

Again, an interactive and visual exercise. Replace with something substantial. First impressions. If the door handle is weighty and they spent money on it then the rest of the house must be the same way…..

17. Pressure clean or paint door

Your Buyer will be staring at the door. Replace/Pressure Clean/Paint if necessary.

18. Possible bench

Sometimes a bench adds a visual scene and also can by used to block dull stucco.