I need to increase curb appeal, but I don’t have much money. What should I do?

I was asked the following question recently: “I know I need to increase the curb appeal of my home before putting it on the market, but I have little to no budget. What should I do?”

Great question! I have many sellers who are saving all their money for the next home purchase and don’t have much to spend on sprucing up their homes before putting them on the market. Here are some ideas which are low on cash requirements, but do require some elbow grease:

• Make sure your lawn is up to par. Mow, trim the sides, and take up any weed patches. Make sure you put grass seed in any bare patches and water several times per week (in dry climates) to keep it looking fresh.
• Keep all the flower beds “dead-headed” and trimmed.
• Trim all the shrubs.
• Wash the house and decks. Remove any moss or dirt from the siding.
• Wash all the windows inside and out.
• Clean oil pools off the driveway.
• Check all the screens in your house for holes and replace.
• Touch up all the paint inside and out.
• Make sure the front door is freshly painted or free of dings.
• Clean the baseboards.
• Dust the blinds.
• Clean the carpets.
• Clean the drapes.
• Make sure there are no burned out lights inside and out.
• Declutter everything from your kitchen counters, pantry, inside cabinets and drawers, closets, and the garage.

Remember, you want your home to appeal to the widest range of buyers. As a seller, minimizing the distraction from things that look messy or unkempt allows the buyer to focus on the attractive elements of the home. Keeping a clean and uncluttered house is a must, but it doesn’t have to cost much.