When you buy houses to fix and flip, one key to your success is to buy the worst house in a nice neighborhood. If you can buy the house at the right price and create value with the right renovations, you’ll be able to sell the house and create a nice payday for yourself.
Always paint the front door red because red is the color that sells!
I recently did a survey on Twitter and asked what the most important room inside a house is. Overwhelmingly, it was the kitchen. Next were the bathroom, master bath, and office space.
As a rehabber, you can make the inside look brand new, but prospective buyers may never walk through the front door unless you can create nice “curb appeal.”
So often, the worst house in a nice neighborhood looks like a pile of garbage.
If you work so hard on the inside and forget to work outside, prospective buyers will pull up to the curb and never want to get out of their car to see your beautiful home.
Here are seven way to create curb appeal that will motivate your prospective buyers to buy your house quickly.
1. Siding
News flash: Buyers do not like dirty, rotting siding. Not surprising, is it?
If the siding is in good repair, be sure to power wash it. If it is rotting, replace the siding. Brand new vinyl siding will give your house the face lift it desperately needs.
2. Accessories
Be sure the shutters look great, the gutters are cleaned out, and porches are freshly painted to maximize curb appeal.
While you are working on the exterior accessories, be sure that the driveway looks great. Maybe you can seal coat it or bring in a fresh load of gravel to freshen it up for your new buyers.
The buyer will want a clear path from the driveway to the kitchen, so be sure it is well marked and looks great for them.
What about that old, gross shed? Buyers like outdoor storage. If needed, replace the shed roof and paint or side it so they can see the nice outdoor space you created for them.
3. Landscaping
Be sure to rake all the old leaves, mow and “weed eat” the entire lawn. While working on the yard, be sure to remove fallen branches and dead trees. Work on the flower beds–breathe new life into them with fresh mulch and new shrubs and flowers.
Flowers add a symphony of color and appeal to new buyers for very little cost.
4. Exterior Lighting
Some buyers do drive-bys at night, so be sure to light up your house with new lighting on porches, spot lights, and landscape solar lights. If they drive by your home at dusk, you want it to shine–so they can make an appointment to see it and buy it right away.
5. Roof
Have the roof inspected. Sometimes you may need to replace it, go over top of it, or just wash away those roof stains.
Roofs that do not look good can be red flags and cause concern. If you can create a fresh, maintenance-free exterior with nice siding, clean gutters, nice windows, and a good-looking roof, you’ll be well on your way to selling your house.
6. Entry Door
What do prospective buyers see when they walk up to your porch? They will spend time in that spot for a while, waiting for you or their Realtor to open the door. So be sure it sparkles. Nice door knobs, a welcome mat, and a red door make a big difference.
Always paint the door red because red is the color that sells!
7. Outdoor Space
Buyers today love to have a nice outdoor space, including a deck, patio, and porch that are well designed, cleaned, and painted. A nice outdoor space allows your potential buyers to see their own families building memories right there at your house.
What do you think are the important elements of curb appeal? Leave us your comments…