First impressions are tricky. A person’s perception of your home is formed the moment they first see it. This means that no matter how nice the other parts of your home are, potential buyers and tenants could be turned away by a few minor details they notice when they step foot on the property.
If you want to make a successful sale, the goal is not to leave room for doubt that your property is worth investing in. That means making sure that the structure of your home is in its best condition and keeping the aesthetic aspects in great shape.
Improve Your Outdoor Look
The first area guests, interested buyers, and potential tenants visit when they come to your property is your front door. Everything in front is vital to making a strong first impression.
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Set the tone with a good door
The focal point of your home from the curbside is the door. Its state and color dictate what the rest of your home looks like—or at least how visitors think it does.
First, see if your door is still in good working order. Address concerns, such as if knobs or screws need replacement or if anything needs oiling. When these are fixed, you can consider the visual concerns.
Check the color of your door against exterior walls, windows, plants, and other visible elements. Paint it a shade that complements the overall color scheme and theme of your home. Do not hesitate to retouch or replace the other features of your door, from your knocker to your house number, if they do not match the style you are going for.
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Tidy up your front yard
A clean front yard is also necessary to impress visitors. Take a look at your front yard to see what updates you may need and what features you should add to make it appeal to more people.
If you are not for fancy garden work, the simplest initial step is to trim your grass and keep it green, even in the summer. This involves understanding the proper methods to water the kind of grass in your yard.
One tip for your grass: always water deeply in the early morning. When you water it at around 5 AM, you do not have to worry about the grass unnecessarily retaining too much moisture because what is not absorbed evaporates.
Beautify Your Interiors
Of course, your interiors matter, too. These are some of the best ways to maintain the quality of your home’s visual appeal as visitors go indoors.
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Give your walls a fresh coat of paint
A well-decorated home can easily be bogged down by drab wall color. Choose a calming, neutral shade to welcome people into your living spaces. If you are up for a bit of adventure, introduce accents by installing decorative wood wall panels on one side of the room. When done right, wall panels and wallpaper can add character to a space and make it look larger.
A good thing about repainting and using stick-on panels is that you don’t need professional assistance to do it. Just take a couple of days off from your usual home routine to do some revamping, and you will have an elevated living room in no time!
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Introduce more lighting
You cannot go wrong with layering your lighting. A well-lit home is more pleasant and welcoming to anyone who comes in, even your household who spends time in it every day.
Keep the purpose of every room in mind and make sure that areas where light is most needed have appropriate and adequate light fixtures. For instance, see to it that your reading nooks in the living room and food preparation areas in the kitchen have ample lighting.
Aside from artificial lighting, allow natural light to generously come into rooms. Open your windows, use lighter curtains, or even renovate East-facing windows to accommodate more sunshine during the day. Lots of natural light gives your home a healthier glow, which visitors will appreciate.
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Mind the scents across rooms
First impressions are not all about what people see. It is about what they smell, too. Examine the scents of your rooms and get rid of the sources of odd odors. Kitchens and bathrooms are usually to blame for odor issues, so doubly check on these areas.
Keep Your Home Clean
Finally, make cleaning up a habit. It is obvious when a home is shown thorough care. Buyers and tenants are more inclined to choose your property when they can easily tell that it is well-maintained and cared for.