Everyone knows that curb appeal sells houses, but what kind of impression do you make with your front porch?
If you’re a realtor, what catches your eye when you see a listing for the first time?
A messy front porch or one in disrepair gives the impression, rightly or wrongly, that the interior of the home will be the same.
Catching a buyer’s eye with some quick updates doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg.
Set the Stage for a Sale
Maybe it’s time to finally sell your home, and you’ve just stopped seeing it from an outsider’s perspective. Or maybe you’re a Real Estate Agent who wants to give tips on how to spruce up the curb appeal of a listing beyond “mow your lawn” and “keep the yard tidy.” A great seller’s guide can provide “tips for showing your home,” but we wanted to note some quick and relatively inexpensive ways to spruce up your or your clients’ front porch area.
1. Welcome Buyers in!
A great doormat sends a message (sometimes literally) that buyers are welcome to come in and stay a while. A unique or stylish doormat can even inspire potential buyers to picture having their own friends and family over for warm summer night BBQ’s, cozy and heartwarming Christmas gatherings or even for a sweet baby shower. This is key to falling in love with a home, imagining all the new memories that can be made! We just love this doormat, because it’s beautiful, goes with any décor, and is just so inviting.
2. Happy Home
We absolutely adore this cheerful little house sign which can be mounted on your front gate or beside your door. Elements like this add to a sense of warmth and show that a lot of care and detail has gone into making this house a home.
3. Create Interest with Plants
Who doesn’t love some potted plants on either side of the front door? Our personal fave this time of year is hydrangeas in a beautiful white planter. Add some colour to an otherwise neutral space, with a punch of spring (or summer, or fall) flowers and see how it transforms the space. Too busy planning a move and keeping the house showing ready to remember a watering schedule, how about one of these gorgeous eucalyptus wreathes which can come with you to your new home!
4. Paint the Door
A bold front door makes an impression. We painted ours blue last year, and it’s the prettiest shade that makes us happy every time we pull into the driveway. Classic black, bold red, or even a bright orange are always great colours, depending on the style of your home. Benjamin Moore’s “October Mist” is a beautiful shade of pale green and has been named 2022’s colour of the year. Or, this shade by Benjamin Moore is a lovely blue grey that makes a statement but doesn’t overpower. You can have so much fun with these vibrant colours, it’s hard to choose just one!
5. Update the House Numbers
Tie everything together with some lovely new house numbers. These 4-inch numbers can be mounted in a floating or flush with the wall. The polished brass gives it a well… polished look and is sure to catch the eye of prospective buyers.
6. Take a Seat
If you have the room for it, a great bench on the porch invites images of a morning coffee sitting in the sun greeting the neighbours. Or maybe it evokes the image of elderly parents, kids or grandparents having a great spot to rest and take their shoes off, instead of trampling mud and dirt through the house!
Just adding a few fresh features to your front porch can help a prospective buyer imagine themselves living in your or your client’s home. Having great curb appeal will entice drive by shoppers to want to take a look inside. You’ll just have to be careful not to fall in love with the home all over again.