COVID-19 and social distancing has changed the way we shop for homes. According to Realtor.com, homebuyers find the ability to take a virtual tour of a home helpful. And that means boosting your property’s curb appeal is a high-priority item on your to-do list.

Why Your Property’s Curb Appeal is Important

Your property’s curb appeal is more important than ever now. And you have only eight seconds to beckon a second look or turn them off completely from the moment they lay eyes on your home.

Because of the coronavirus, homebuyers research and shop for houses online even more than they have in the past. They’re looking for plenty of high-quality photos of listings. They want to see a home’s interior and exterior and lots of both. They’re placing a lot more weight on photos of the exterior since they are limited to fewer in-person tours.

By the way, this makes walkthroughs of your property via video chat with an agent or thorough pre-recorded video available with your listing a great idea, too.

6 Ways to Make Homebuyers Eager to See What’s Inside Your Home

Investing in your property‘s curb appeal helps it sell faster and for more money, just as staging your home does. And you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars to create a great first impression either. Here are six of the best upgrades you can do for $100 or less:

1. Pay Attention to Your Driveway and/or Walkways

Your driveway and/or walkway lead the buyer’s eye toward your home’s front door and to the inside of your home.

• Get rid of weeds
• Patch minor cracks in the concrete with caulk
• Hose down the driveway and/or walkway before photos, video, or in-person tours
• Finish your concrete driveway and/or walkway with a clear, glossy sealer

2. Fix Up the Garage

The garage plays a big role in your property’s curb appeal, especially when it’s attached to your home.

• Paint the garage doors the same color as your home’s trim
• Add a garage door with a row of windows or swap out existing panels and add glass inserts
• Stage the inside of your garage

3. Paint the Front Door

Peeling paint, rusty hardware, and scuff marks are a big turn off, especially on the front door. But a fresh coat of paint immediately adds life to your home and catches the attention of onlookers. Show homebuyers that your house is loved and cared for.

• Paint the front door with eye-catching color, such as red, yellow, or blue
• Replace old hardware with updated doorknobs and hinges
• Add a door with glass inserts to create a welcoming feeling

4. Keep Your Yard Green and Groomed

Your lawn, if you have one, is one of the first things a homebuyer sees when shopping online. And landscaping that is well-groomed creates a great first impression.

• Mow the grass
• Water the grass to keep it green
• Prune shrubs
• Weed flower beds and add fresh mulch

5. Turn On the Charm with Exterior Lighting

Create a warm, unified ambiance with nighttime lighting for your home. 

• Add 60-watt LED bulbs with a warm tone to each side of your front door
• Make sure all exterior lighting matches, on the house and on the garage

6. Make Your Front Porch More Welcoming

Give your property’s curb appeal a boost beyond just the front door. Replace your outdoor accents for an even greater first impression.

• Add an attractive doormat
• Replace your house numbers
• Buy a new mailbox
• Plant colorful annuals in pots and place them around your front porch
• Clean windows
• Sweep cobwebs

Look at Your Home From the Homebuyer’s Point of View

As more buyers shop for homes from a distance, paying close attention to the exterior of your listing is key. Look at your home through the eyes of the prospective homebuyer and provide plenty of great photos.

Remember, your property’s curb appeal has eight seconds to create a great first impression. Make it great, and they’ll eagerly walk through the rest of your home online.

Contact me, Charles D’Alessandro, your Brooklyn Real Estate Agent with Fillmore Real Estate. With over 30 plus years as a Brooklyn real estate agent and broker, I can help you navigate the selling process even during these challenging times.

Our office is completely shut down and committed to your safety during the COVID-19 health crisis in compliance with the State of New York public health policies. I can be reached by phone at (718) 253-9600 ext. 1901 or by email at [email protected].

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Charles D’Alessandro
Your Brooklyn Real Estate Agent
718-253-9600 ext. 1901

Even when you’re short on space, it’s possible to grow and enjoy fresh vegetables, strawberries or flowers at home in Brooklyn. All you need is a planting box or containers, a little dirt, water and sunlight.

Proper planning is the first and most important step to grow a garden at home in Brooklyn.

1. Choose a layout for your garden at home in Brooklyn

• Will your garden be a practical garden or a beautiful feature to add curb appeal to your home in Brooklyn?
• What size will your garden be? 4-by-4? 8-by-4?
• Will you build a planting box, hire to have it built or purchase a pre-made planter or containers?

2. Choose the materials

• Whether you build raised bed yourself, hire to have it built or purchase a pre-made planter, this article will give you a variety of ideas and looks to choose from. 8-materials-for-raised-garden-beds
• If you choose to build or purchase a wooden planter, buy rot-resistant wood. The following link shares 8 rot-resistant woods to choose from: 8-rot-resistant-woods-for-your-outdoor-projects
• DIYers, planting boxes are easy. Here is a complete list of materials, tools and instructions to make a beautiful raised bed for your garden at home in Brooklyn. http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/

3. Choose the crops or plants

• Purchase crops that will not outgrow the garden space. They should be vegetable plants that will produce all season long, not at the end of the season only. Think salad greens, beets, peas, beans, some tomato types and herbs here, for example. grow-a-kitchen-garden-in-16-square-feet
• Some fruit bushes are patio-appropriate and provide great curb appeal. They are good choices for your container garden at home in Brooklyn. BrazelBerries, for example, are easy to grow. They do well in either containers or a raised bed. patio-perfect-berry-bushes

Spring has arrived! Add beauty and value to your home with the curb appeal of a garden at home in Brooklyn. For more ideas on spring curb appeal to prepare your home for sale, contact your Brooklyn real estate agent with Fillmore Real Estate, Charles D’Alessandro at (718) 253-9600 ext 206 or email [email protected]. Enjoy the season’s best!

Resources:

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/24538559/list/how-to-build-a-raised-bed-for-your-veggies-and-plants