Idaho Falls Real Estate Blog

Fixing up and cleaning your property is a very important part of selling your Idaho Falls home.  You may currently be happy with the way your house looks, but if you want to get top dollar and a quick sell in Idaho, you’ll need to present it at it’s best.  One of the easiest things you can do to raise your bottom line is improve the homes curb appeal.

Right now over 80% of buyers begin their search online.  When they do this, the first thing that they see is a picture of the front of your house.  Typically they will use it to make a decision of whether or not they want to see the inside.  Some buyers might even go so far as to drive by.  However, if your house has poor curb appeal, they’ll rarely want to walk through it.  In my experience as a realtor, buyers will usually only request to view roughly 10% of the active listings in their price range.  If you want top dollar for your home, it’s critical that you get as many of them through your front door as possible.

Here are some suggestions to improve the way your house looks to potential buyers.

Fix the Lawn

Before you do anything else you need to repair any damage to your lawn.  Spread grass seed where it’s needed, fertilize immediately, and water as much as you have to in order to green things up.  If you need help with any of this, I recommend you visit a local lawn and garden store and ask specific questions.  Keep in mind that it will take some time for things to improve, so plan ahead and start before your house goes on the market.

You might hate it, but you need to break out the lawn mower and keep the grass looking good the entire time your house is on the market.  Don’t forget to also trim and edge weekly.  If this seems like more than you’re willing to do, hire a lawn care company to temporarily take care of it for you.  It will be well worth the expense when your offer comes in.

Trim the Trees and Shrubs

Trim all hedges and trees so they look neat and clean.  Buyers want to be able to see the house beyond the jungle.  With larger trees, you may have to hire a professional to take care of them for you.

Get Rid of the Weeds and Plant Flowers

Your flower beds should be free of weeds and have plenty of color.  Flowers have a way of brightening up even the gloomiest yard.  You don’t need to go crazy, but you should pick up a couple flats of annuals.  They’re cheaper than you think, and relatively easy to plant.

Get Rid of the Clutter

The front of your house is not the best place to pile your unwanted clutter.  Take everything you don’t want to the dump.  In Idaho Falls it’s free, so you really don’t have a good excuse to not take care of the garbage.

You might enjoy the old couch on the front porch, but buyers won’t look at it with the same adoration.  It doesn’t matter whether you decide to store it, dump it, or sell it, just put it where it can’t be seen.

If you have children, make sure you keep the bikes and toys picked up rather than scattered around the yard.

Paint the House and Trim

Forget about “touching it up.”  After a few years of exposure to the weather and sun, the paint will have slightly faded.  If you try to paint the areas that have discolored, flaked, or peeled, you’ll make the house look blotchy.  Bite the bullet and do it right.  It will make the front of your home look incredible, and do wonders for the curb appeal.

When you pick a color, do it very carefully.  You’ll want it to blend in well with the other houses in the neighborhood plus fit in with current trends.  If you’re not sure what color to pick, don’t hesitate to get advice from an expert.  Also, check with your homeowners’ association and CC&Rs for any color restrictions.

Remember that first impressions count and you may only get one.  You don’t want the “perfect buyer” to never know your home’s potential because of bad curb appeal.  Follow these suggestions and you’ll greatly increase your showings, which could lead to a higher offer.

For more tips to improve your homes curb appeal, check out our free reports. Click here for our Idaho Falls real estate homeowner’s library.