Clever Ways to Boost Kerb Appeal Before Putting a House on the Market

Want to sell your house fast and at a top price?

The secret doesn’t always lie within the property itself. Sometimes it’s what buyers see before they even reach the front door. Kerb appeal is crucial to making a sale and most sellers are getting it dreadfully wrong.

New studies show homes with good curb appeal sell for around 7% more than similar homes. That can make a huge impact on the average listing price.

The good news?

Improving kerb appeal doesn’t need to be expensive. Most of the most effective tips are also very cheap and quick to implement.

Learn exactly what upgrades sell houses fast… AND sell houses for MORE money in this guide.

Here’s What’s Coming:

• Why Kerb Appeal Matters So Much
• The Best Kerb Appeal Upgrades
• The Sliding Patio Doors Trick Buyers Love
• Final Touches That Seal The Deal

Why Kerb Appeal Matters So Much

First impressions stick. And when it comes to selling a house, they stick fast.

Buyers don’t sit in judgement once they get inside a property, they decide within seconds. Research by Marshalls showed that 60% form an opinion of a property in the first minute of seeing it from the outside.

That means before they have seen the kitchen, bathroom or back garden…they have made their mind up about liking the house or not.

Here’s why that matters:

• Buyers offer more on homes they feel connected to
• Strong kerb appeal can speed up the sale
• Tired exteriors can knock thousands off the asking price

Installing new sliding patio doors checks all three. They brighten up your home and help the rear of your property look great in pictures. Sellers looking for brand new sliding patio doors that enhance curb appeal for the whole home can look to Birmingham Glass Services.

The takeaway? Spending a weekend boosting kerb appeal can pay back big time.

The Best Kerb Appeal Upgrades

Now to the good stuff. Here are the upgrades that actually move the needle…

Repaint The Front Door

Repainting your front door is the easiest & least expensive curb appeal win you can make.

The front door is a home’s centerpiece. A scuffed, faded door tells sellers their house has been neglected. A bold, freshly painted door tells them it’s loved.

Stick to colours that match the style of the house:

• Navy blue for modern homes
• Sage green for cottages
• Black or charcoal for period homes
• Deep red for traditional terraces

Don’t forget the door handle and letterbox as you go. Details matter.

Tidy The Front Garden

A messy front garden can ruin all the work you’ve done elsewhere.

You don’t have to have a landscaped wonderment. Just tidy up your yard. Mow your grass, trim bushes, and weed flowerbeds. Add a few potted plants by your front door for a touch of coziness.

Power wash the pathway if the cracks or stains don’t come clean. You’ll be surprised at how much of a difference it can make.

Sort Out The Driveway

Driveways take a beating from weather, oil drips and tyre marks.

Your driveway is one of the first things potential buyers will see. Power wash it. Reseal it if necessary. Replace cracked or broken pavers.

Make sure if you have a gravel driveway that you fill it in and make it look neat and replenished. This simple inexpensive trick can make your entire front appearance.

The Sliding Patio Doors Trick Buyers Love

Want to know the upgrade most sellers completely overlook?

Sliding patio doors. You wouldn’t automatically think they are a kerb appeal job as they are at the back of the house… BUT estate agents take pictures of the rear of the property to sell it online. Buyers are looking at those pictures first.

Modern sliding patio doors do three things at once:

1. They let in more natural light
2. They make rooms look bigger
3. They give the property a fresh, modern feel

64% of home buyers consider sliding patio doors a desired or required feature according to a new NAHB study. There you have it, almost two-thirds of your market wants this BEFORE they see your home.

Bonus: New sliding patio doors are much better at conserving energy than old ones. People love seeing low energy bills on the EPC certificate.

Final Touches That Seal The Deal

The big jobs are done. Now it’s the small details that finish things off…

Update The House Numbers

Yellowing old house numbers look scruffy. Replace them with new brushed steel or matte black numbers. It’s a £10 update that makes your house look 10 years newer.

Light The Way

Outdoor lighting changes how the house feels in the evenings.

Add a few solar lights along the walkway. And install a smart wall light near the front door. Buyers love a warm inviting entranceway — particularly when they’re arriving from work.

Clean The Windows

This is the easiest upgrade on the list.

Having sparkling windows gives your entire house a brighter, fresher look as if it’s better taken care of. Hire a window cleaner if it’ll save you time. It’s worth every penny.

Sort The Bins

This sounds silly. But it works.

Screen the bins behind bushes. Move them out of sight. There’s nothing that destroys kerb appeal quicker than a line of wheelie bins by the front door.

Add A Welcome Mat

Place an interactive welcome mat at your front door. It says to buyers “you’re welcome here.” Little detail. Huge difference. Select a darker shade so it won’t show dirt after several muddy shoes have traipsed over it.

Bringing It All Together

Increasing kerb appeal doesn’t mean spending thousands. It means showing someone your house has been loved for and cared for by a family.

To quickly recap:

• Repaint the front door
• Tidy the garden and driveway
• Upgrade old sliding patio doors
• Update small details like numbers, lighting and the welcome mat

These simple upgrades can:

• Speed up the sale
• Push the offers higher
• Make buyers fall in love before they walk in

Most sellers don’t worry about kerb appeal, thinking buyers will care more about the interior. Research indicates quite the contrary. Buyers make decisions within seconds – well before granite worktops and smart boilers can be seen.

And here’s the best part… you can do most of these projects with just a weekend and a little money. Invest a weekend on the outside of your house and watch the offers roll in.

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