The Ultimate Insiders Guide to Winter Curb Appeal

December 20, 2015

Winter Curb Appeal DOES Matter: Boost Yours with These Tips — The Best Winter Curb Appeal Ideas from 18 Professionals 

Luke Skar of Inlanta Mortgage has put together an article to help home sellers boost a home’s curb appeal when selling in the winter. He reached out and put together top real estate professionals for ideas and tips for this mega guide for home sellers.

With tons of great tips and helpful information, I thought of re-blogging and sharing it here so you won’t miss it.   It was a great pleasure to be one of the contributors of this awesome article. Check out some of the blog’s  highlights!

Toronto Home Staging

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Keep the Property Safe

Before discussing the exterior improvements that add aesthetic appeal, we need to discuss functional safety. It really won’t help to spend time and money improving the looks of your home if people are afraid to walk along the sidewalk or step on the porch.

  • You can never have too much light – in the winter months the days are short and it gets dark before most people can get home. Since real estate agents are typically meeting prospective clients after their workday ends, it is important to have good lighting. This includes lights along the outside walkway, on the porch and even at the rear of the home. Make sure the garage lights are working and if you have any motion-sensor lights then it is time to replace the bulbs.
  • Make steps and handrails user friendly – If you have steps leading to the front door of your home, make sure they are in good condition. Wood can rot over time and will break at the worst possible time. Also, test out the strength of the handrails and make sure they are safe to use.
  • Remove snow – If you live in a place that frequently gets a lot of snowfall make sure the snow is shoveled from the driveway and walkway before buyers arrive. Ensure any exterior steps are free of snow. Also, as an added touch, get rid of as many icicles hanging on gutters or the roof.

Add Color

The winter months are filled with cloudy skies and overall dreary looking days. Adding some color in key spots will help your home stand out from other sellers and hopefully help the home sell faster.

  • Bright Door – One simple way to add some color is to repaint the front door and/or the trim around the door. A bright red, yellow, or blue can really add a bit of splash to the home. You can also get a nice wreath and doormat that has some colors to add a bit more spice.
  • Plants and pots – Since the winter is missing the color of spring a simple fix is to get some nice, bright pots and add some plants designed specifically for winter. Species like juniper, blue holly, barberry, boxwood and red-twig dogwood are able to stay green throughout the year. Placing some of these plants near the door and along the walkway will add to the instant appeal of the home.

Small Details that Matter

Besides the color and safety issues there are small things that most people can do to a home to make it seem inviting.

  • Do a deep cleaning – Either do some pressure washing of the exterior walls and walkway or hire someone to do it. This deep cleaning will reveal the true color of the home’s walls and make the driveway/walkway look fresher.
  • Trim trees and bushes for the house – It is smart to look at the trees and bushes around the home and trim them in a pattern that will accent the home. Bushes should be cut at the same height and stop just below windows to add more focus to the actual window. Tree branches need to be cut in a way that the form almost a frame that draws the visitor’s eye to the home.
  • Repair the fence and especially the gate – If your home has any type of gate, whether it is in front of the home or in the rear, take time to ensure the gate swings freely. Repair or replace the latch or hinges. Make sure the gate is easy to open and close for any average adult. Remove any vines or other clutter from the fence.

Ideas to Help a Home Look Unique

If you are of the mind to spend some extra money to really make your home unique, here are a few ideas that will really change the curb appeal.

  • Embellishments for the garden – if your home has any shrubs or flowers planted around the perimeter of the home it is a good chance that some of these items will lose their color in the winter. Consider adding some bright colored items among the plants to add a bit of splash. Orbs that are silver or gold can really add a nice touch to the area. You may also consider adding a short flag pole in the garden that can hold a seasonal banner.
  • A lantern out front – If your home has a fence around the front of the home, a nice wrought iron lantern hanging on a wooden post can add a homey feel to the property. The lantern can be electric, gas-powered or even work off a battery.
  • Lights at the driveway entrance – If you live in an area without much street lighting it may be tough for people to find your home in the evening hours. A light atop a post on either side of the driveway can be a beacon to visitors and add warmth to the home’s general look.

Click here for more tips and ideas and to read the full article.

RED BARRINUEVO

is a Canadian Certified Staging Professional. His professional affiliations include the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) and the CSP. He is the recipient of numerous home staging awards and was picked as one of the Top 10 Professional Stagers of Canada three years in a row. He has worked with hundreds of Real Estate Brokers, Investors, Real Estate Agents, and has helped home owners showcase their homes when it is time to sell.

As President and Principal Stager of REDESIGN4MORE, Red provides home staging and interior redecorating services for both small and large-scale residential projects throughout Toronto and the GTA. Click here to learn more about Red and REDESIGN4MORE.

 

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