You only get one shot at a first impression. It’s your one chance to make an impact or inspire action. And sometimes, a first impression is all you get. That’s why some real estate experts say curb appeal is the most underutilized, powerful element of selling your home. It’s the first impression to potential buyers. Based on the curb appeal of your home, they’ll decide if they want to see the inside of it or not. It’s their first step in.

Curb appeal is also important even when your home isn’t on the market. Believe it or not, it can actually influence the desirability, and thus the market value, of the homes in your neighborhood. Have you ever had an HOA that held contests for the best yard? The HOA in a previous neighborhood I lived in held one every month. Judges from the HOA would determine who had the best looking yard for that month and they would get a sign to post in their yard and bragging rights. Everyone likes a little friendly competition but the HOA did this for a very specific reason. To keep the market value and desirability of the neighborhood up. It’s genius! Everyday when neighbors would jog or walk their dogs, they’d get to see who had the best yard for that month. They were beautiful lawns and everyone looked forward to seeing who had the best yard when a new month rolled around.

Maintaining the market value of the homes in your neighborhood is critical, especially in an upcoming housing market like the one we’re in now (check out San Antonio Board of Realtors December 2013 market statistics). It directly relates to the equity you have in your home, which could be crucial in an emergency if you need to take out a second mortgage or even sell it. It’s also important to the overall economy of the city you live in and ultimately the country’s. Everything is interrelated so it’s important not to take anything for granted.

If you’re still not sure how significant curb appeal is, HGTV created an entire show dedicated to it (literally called Curb Appeal)! Have you seen it? Oh, it’s great. You have to check out these amazing before and after pictures! Now, we certainly don’t expect you to master the art of curb appeal like Architect John Gidding from the show but these pictures are so fun to look at!

If you’d like to spruce up the exterior of your home a little, check out our Curb Appeal board on Pinterest for some easy inexpensive ideas.

If you need helping selling your home, contact us. We can help.

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