You’ve likely heard the old adage, “kitchens and bathrooms sell houses” – and whoever told you that would be absolutely correct.

However, before a potential buyer even sees a kitchen or a bathroom, you – the owner – and your real estate agent have to get them through the front door.

And what’s the biggest hurdle to hitting milestone?  Curb appeal.  Plain and simple.  If your property doesn’t pop with clean lines and a fresh, inviting look, not even the best Bethesda realtor will be able to wrangle up an offer for your DC-area home.

So if you find that your would-be buyers are turning tail as soon as they see that cracked walkway or that untamed yard, it may be time for a home face-lift.  Don’t worry – you don’t have to break the bank to give your home that offer-grabbing curb appeal.  Just ask yourself a few key questions, and make the simple fixes where appropriate.  In our experience, homes with an “A+” in Curb Appeal 101 are able to answer a resounding “yes” to each of these questions:

1)      Does the actual façade have a generally neat appearance? This means a fresh coat of paint – both across the body of the home and on all shutters, railings, and window sills.  This also means a fully tiled and clean roof, free and clear gutters, and an intact walk-way and driveway.

Creating that lived-in feel is important – buyers need to know that the porch is great for coffee, or that the driveway is a perfect size for DIY auto repair – but try to keep decorative and functional elements to a minimum (and neat as well).  Roll the car dolly back into the garage, and clean the magazines and mugs off of the coffee table.  Buyers will envision their own concept of the space just seeing a rocking chair and a small end table.  Let their imagination run.

Just take look at this property here on Macomb Street in NW DC.  Fresh, bright-white paint, bare gutters, and a pristine roof.  From the second story windows to the power-wash clean garage door, this house is an eye-catcher.

This home, on the other hand, can expect to linger on the market for quite some time until the owners get its paint and trim in order (in reality, a fairly quick fix).

Other questions to keep in mind regarding your home’s façade:

1. Is the garden hose coiled?
2. Is the basketball hoop wheeled into the garage?
3. Is the oil spot in the driveway scrubbed clean?
4. Have Rex’s “whereabouts” been removed from the yard?  (a perfect segue to our next major question)

2)      Is the yard well landscaped? The landscape style and choice of plantings should match the home style i.e. don’t have palm trees in front of a colonial.  Grass should be neat and trees trimmed.  Seasonal flowers are a great additional, and visually work best when grouped together rather than sprinkled sparsely around.

Other landscaping questions to ask yourself:

1. Do I have the proper outdoor lighting for walkways?
2. Are those walkways cleared of debris, cumbersome flowerpots, and/or Jimmy’s skateboard?
3. Is there a place to sit at the front of the house?  A small bench or welcoming spot?  How could I incorporate one into the landscaping?

You want our yard to feel live-in-able.  A great way to accomplish that is to bake human elements – benches, stepping stones, etc. – into the yard.

Take, for instance, this fine Bethesda home.  With well postiond seasonal flowers and a natural stone path leading up to front steps (clear of flowers, skateboard, etc.), it’s owners created a comfortable yard and garden area.  And with the addition of porch lighting and ground level walk-way lights shining upwards, their home is a safe, welcoming respite for visitors (and, obviously, for buyers as well).

This property on the other hand, needs just a small amount of work.  With such a big, open yard, the owners could add a border of season flowers along the driveway and replace the existing bushes with a more complimentary array of lush foliage that could extend further into the yard, adding more layers and aesthetic appeal.  Then, simply replace the gravel walkway at the front with a more natural, earthy look, and they’ve got a winning formula.

3)      Lastly, ask yourself: “does my property enjoy visual balance?” The color of your home makes a big difference, and we’ve discovered in our experience that neutrals and traditional colors work best in the greater DC area.  Start with a classic color palate, and allow the trim color to balance with your landscape.  It should stand out, but not overwhelm.

A follow up question: does the color scheme of my house fit into the neighborhood?  As a homeowner, you want your property to stand out for the right reasons – aesthetic appeal and value – and not because it’s the only one on the block in Redskins colors.  Red and Gold may show your team pride – and earn you a high-five if Clinton Portis passes by – but it will mean the difference between actually selling your home and watching another season in the same living room.

Play an active role in maintaining the aesthetic and appeal of the neighborhood as a whole – this will help get buyers in the door.  (Then, let your kitchens and bathrooms do the rest).  Below is a prime example in Bethesda.  The red brick and white trim pop and the foliage and clean landscaping, but they do not overwhelm.

Purple, on the other hand, does overwhelm. Severely.  A Fresh coat of paint, and this is a unique, sellable property.  Otherwise, the owner better simple pray that Prince is looking for a 2-story in NOVA.

Questions, comments, concerns?  Not sure where to start?  Reach out to your team in Bethesda or McLean, and we’ll be happy to get you off on the right foot.