We talk a lot about preparing a house before putting it on the market. That’s because first impressions really do count, especially when it comes to selling a home. 

It makes sense to go all out cleaning, decluttering, painting, and making minor repairs that make your house appealing to potential buyers. However, with all the planning and effort to prepare the interior for a buyer’s scrutinizing eyes, it’s easy to forget about the exterior.

We like to pay particular attention to the outside of the house because it’s the first thing a buyer sees even before they get out of the car. If you want a successful sale at top dollar, it makes sense to maximize your curb appeal. How? That’s what this post is all about.

What’s on the Outside Counts – a Lot!

As much as we’d like to think that a buyer won’t judge your home from the outside, the fact is that we all do it. Even subtle things like a meticulously kept lawn or a few colourful flowers in the garden can create an instant positive impression with potential buyers.

Some homeowners invest in extensive landscaping to turn their front and backyards into an all-season outdoor oasis. However, there’s no need to go overboard in most cases. You’re not trying to win an award or earn a spot on a TV show. Your goal is simply to show buyers that your property is loved and well cared for. A few simple guidelines can help you showcase the value of your home all year long.

Looking for help making the inside of the home stand out? The posts below will give you some ideas:

• Is Staging Really Necessary When Selling Your Winnipeg Home?
• Should I Renovate My Home Before Selling?
• A Step-By-Step Guide For First-Time Sellers In Winnipeg

Spring

Winnipeg spring is truly something to look forward to for its breathtaking warmth and beauty! After a long winter where the lawns and fields have been covered with a blanket of snow, blossoms, buds, and other signs of life begin to sprout. Spring is also a fantastic time for curb appeal, thanks to an explosion of colour and fragrance from early-blooming flowers like daffodils and bluebells.

Creating beautiful curb appeal in the spring involves cleaning up your yard after the winter. Picking up all of the sticks and leftover leaves that have fallen goes a long way to making your house look clean and fresh from the outside. Power washing the patio and front stairs also won’t hurt.

Summer

Creating summertime curb appeal will be much easier if you maintain your home in the spring. Now, it’s a matter of keeping the lawn mowed and watered, if necessary.

Some of the spring blooms may be at an end. However, that just gives you an opportunity to change it out with the season. Planting perennials is one way to have an almost maintenance-free garden. If you prefer to change it up, you can’t go wrong with hardy annuals like petunias, hibiscus, and geraniums.

That said, there’s more to curb appeal than tending to your garden. Summer is also the time for outdoor entertaining and lounging in the backyard. Why not consider adding patio furniture to encourage potential buyers to visualize enjoying backyard parties and get-togethers?

The idea is to display pieces that are both visually appealing and comfortable. You can further enhance the effect with a gazebo or pergola as shelter from the hot sun.

Autumn

On the one hand, maintaining curb appeal in the fall can be challenging. The weather is unpredictable, so you must be ready for anything. On the other hand, fall can be the most beautiful time of year. When the colours are on display, you barely have to do anything to make buyers fall in love with your stunning foliage!

During the beginning of the season, the days are still relatively warm, with a hint of chill in the air at night. With this in mind, you can enhance your curb appeal by adding fire tables and patio heaters, which extends the amount of time a potential buyer can spend outside.

As the days get colder, they also get shorter. Adding solar lights will create visual appeal and help to keep buyers safe when visiting your home after dark.

You don’t have to give up on your outdoor garden quite yet, either. There are colourful and hardy plants that can last until the first frost, such as chrysanthemums, asters, sedums, ornamental kale, and pansies.
Ornamental wreaths, pumpkins, and gourds can create a festive atmosphere that appeals to potential buyers as they approach your front door.

Why do so many home buyers have their eyes on Winnipeg? These might be a few of the reasons:

• 5 Reasons To Move To Winnipeg Right Now
• A Guide To Winnipeg’s Entertainment District
• What Are Winnipeg’s Most Popular Festivals?

Winter

You might think that winter is the most challenging time of year to create curb appeal for your home, especially given Winnipeg’s snowy and chilly weather. It is, in fact, the easiest. Simple additions like durable, winter-appropriate outdoor mats and a stylish, insulated mailbox can make potential buyers feel welcome.

The arduous maintenance of maintaining a garden, mowing the lawn, and raking leaves is behind you. Simply clearing the snow from your driveway and walkways can be all you need to do to assure potential buyers that your home is well cared for. Be sure to brush off snow from trees, shrubs, and roofs as well to prevent damage and keep your property looking neat.

How can such simple tasks add so much perceived value to your listing in the winter? If you maintain the outside well, buyers often assume the inside of your home will also be in excellent condition.
Keeping your property clean and free of snow and ice makes your home instantly more appealing. From there, you can enhance the effect with outdoor lights and seasonal decorations to create a warm and inviting ambiance.

Creating beautiful curb appeal is just one aspect of a successful sale. Do you want to know more? Reach out today to info@goodfellowrealty.com or call 204-224-2551 with any questions you have.