First Impressions Matter: Maximize Your Selling Price

If you are considering selling your home, there are several things that you can do now to get your home market ready – and, in turn, make the best impression on potential buyers. Read below on tips and projects to wow buyers and maximize your sales price.

Coldwell Banker Realty can help you make the needed improvements and repairs to prep your home for sale with no upfront costs using the RealVitalize® program. There are no hidden fees or interest and you do not pay until your property sells. Together, we will work together to decide which home improvement projects will increase your home’s value the most and set an estimated budget for the work. Popular projects include:

Cleaning
Curb appeal
Electrical upgrades
Flooring and carpentry
Handyman services
Landscaping
Painting
Plumbing
Room renovations
Staging

If you are interested in this concierge service, I will enroll your home in the RealVitalize® program and get you connected to a dedicated project consultant who will source and schedule trusted service professionals.

Extension of Yourself

While external upkeep may sound intimidating, there are several easy exterior updates that will improve your home’s outward appearance with minimal work.

Painting your front door is a quick and easy way to refresh your home’s exterior – and create individuality. Think of your front door as an extension of yourself and your style: your front door gives the first impression and entryway into your home.

Sara McLean, color expert and stylist for Dunn-Edwards, said: “It’s a really fun time to test things out and see how your house transforms just with a quart of new color.” Painting a door the right hue can make a traditional house look more contemporary and add some much-needed spark. “If you have a midcentury-style home, going back and looking at some of those midcentury pastels like a coral, peachy pink or even the orange that’s been around for the past couple of years that’s still very popular can be really fun choices.”

Increased Curb Appeal

With the recent heavy rains, a well-manicured – and green – lawn is feasible and will boost your curb appeal. According to Overstock.com brand absaddor Luke Caldwell, “The simplest way to improve your curb appeal is by mowing your lawn, trimming the bushes, and adding fresh mulch to your planter beds.”

Trying to be more drought conscious? Adding native plants to your landscape will equate to less water used! Krista Guerrero, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s Water Efficiency Specialist, said the average lawn accounts for about 70% of a household’s water usage. California native plants require less watering in comparison to grass lawns, and therefore help to conserve water.

Some low-water and drought-resistant plants include:

Agave species (Agave)
Alyogyne huegelii (Blue Hibiscus)
Arctostaphylos species (Manzanita)
Artemisia species (Sagebrush)
Ceanothus species (California Lilac)
Chamelaucium uncinatum (Geraldton Waxflower)
Cistus species (Rockrose)
Dudleya species (Live Forever)
Echeveria species (Hens-and-Chickens)
Encelia californica (California Encelia)
Galvezia speciosa (Island Bush Snapdragon)
Grevillea species (Grevillea)
Heteromeles arbutifolia (Toyon)
Lavandula species (Lavender)

With these plants in your front yard, you could have your space eligible to be certified as a habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. Your front lawn will not only attract neighbors, but wildlife!

Illuminate Your Space

Lighting allows you to highlight key features of your landscape while creating a beautiful visual effect. With Southern California’s sunlight, I prefer to use solar pathway fixtures around my garden. If your front lawn gets full sunlight for roughly four to eight hours a day, a solar light may be a convenient option for illuminating your space. Furthermore, it provides an added sense of safety and security.

Whether you are looking to get your home market ready and/or make the best impression, I look forward to supporting you and your projects and seeing your before and after images!