JBGoodwin REALTORS® - Austin & San Antonio Real Estate Blog

A great first impression is a fragile thing, and you only get one chance to get it right. Leave the wrong first impressions and you’ll never get that opportunity again.

The curb appeal of the home you are trying to sell isn’t anything to scoff at. Giving the potential buyer the best possible first impressions can literally add thousands to the closing sale price of your home. Despite the size of the potential savings, adding great curb appeal to your Austin home doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. Here are a few things you can do to add a bit of needed curb appeal to your home, without breaking the bank.

Clean Up Your Act!

This one may seem like a no-brainer but its impact can be substantial. Take a few weekends out of your life to clean your windows, inside and out and scrub the mildew and moss build up off your home’s siding. You could even rent a power washer if you don’t already have one to blast the build up off your cement walkway and flag stones. For the price of soap, a soft bristled brush and a weekend worth of power washing, you could save yourself thousands by the time your house sale closes.

Nothing like Fresh Paint!

There isn’t a single thing you can do that will be as instantly noticed, and add a degree of polish to your home than a fresh splash of paint. Depending on the size of your home, repainting will likely be a significant investment, but one that will pay off your for you in spades. To save time and stress, it’s recommended that you keep the color of the home the same, unless it’s wildly outdated. If you do go for a different color, do your best to keep the character of the neighborhood, and similar nearby properties at the forefront of your decision.

But what about the Roof?

Aside from the exterior paint, the roof is most likely the second most important feature of your home to get right. But it’s also the most expensive, when it comes to replacing it outright. A new roof can set you back in the order of nearly $8,000. A good alternative could be a professional roof cleaning. With a price-tag that is considerably lower, a professional cleaning company will be able to safely remove years, even decades, of grime, moss and build up without damaging the roof underneath. If you're lucky, this might be all your roof needs.

Mow the grass, but don’t stop there!

Making the yard and lawn nice and neat can have a huge impact. Aside from the home itself, this is going to be the first detail that potential home buyers will look at. Of course, make sure you mow the lawn, but also fill in any faded spots and green up the grass as much as possible, ensuring its adequately watered. If you can, try to replace larger and overgrown bushes with attractive leafy plants and in-season flowers that add a splash of color.

It’s all about the details!

The little details can end up having a surprising impact in the end. This can be as simple as adding a splash of color here and there to introduce a touch of vibrancy and draw the eye. This can be achieved by planting colorful flowers in a flower bed along the driveway, replacing your tired and old mailbox or even just tacking new and unique number plaques to the side of your home. For the more daring, painting your front door a bold red or blue can really set your home apart from similar properties in the area!

Making an impact doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Follow a few of these simple and inexpensive tips to help your home pop, and sell fast!

If you'd like to hear more tips, or receive further assistance in selling your Austin or San Antonio area home, be sure to contact the JB Goodwin Team online to consult an experienced real estate professional.