If a potential buyer drives up to your home and is immediately greeted by an unkempt lawn and shrubbery, a shabby old mailbox and shutters that are long overdue for a repainting, they probably won't give a second thought to buying it. That's why it's important to ramp up your home's curb appeal in advance of putting it on the market.
Use our checklist to take an inventory of your home's exterior and pinpoint areas for needed improvement:
Roof and gutters
Repair or replace loose, damaged or blistered shingles.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Clean gutters and downspout strainers.
Check gutters for leaks and proper alignment.
Inspect flashings around roof stacks, vents, skylights and chimneys.
Clear obstructions from vents, louvers and chimneys.
Check fascias and soffits for decay and peeling paint.
Inspect chimney for any loose or missing mortar.
Exterior walls and doors
Renail loose siding and check for warping or decay.
Paint siding if necessary.
Check masonry walls for cracks or any other damage.
Replace loose or missing caulking.
Apply fresh coat of paint to front door.
Driveway
Repair concrete or blacktop if necessary.
Garage
Lubricate hinges and other hardware on your garage door.
Inspect doors and windows for any peeling paint.
Check condition of glazing around all windows.
Test electrical outlets.
Foundation
Check walls, steps, retaining walls, walkways and patios for cracks, heaving or crumbling.
Yard
Mow and edge lawn, reseed or sod if necessary.
Trim hedges, prune trees and shrubs.
Weed and mulch flowerbeds.
-
I'm want to give my 3 grandkids $5K each for Christmas.You're comfortably retired and want to give your grandkids a big Christmas check, but their parents are worried they might spend it all. We ask the pros for help.
-
If You're Not Doing Roth Conversions, You Need to Read ThisRoth conversions and other Roth strategies can be complex, but don't dismiss these tax planning tools outright. They could really work for you and your heirs.
-
Could Traditional Retirement Expectations Be Killing Us?A retirement psychologist makes the case: A fulfilling retirement begins with a blueprint for living, rather than simply the accumulation of a large nest egg.
-
Will Lower Mortgage Rates Bring Relief to the Housing Market?The Kiplinger Letter As mortgage rates slowly come down here's what to expect in the housing market over the next year or so.
-
Commercial Real Estate Outlook 2024: The Kiplinger LetterThe Kiplinger Letter In 2024, expect hybrid and work-from-home trends, tighter budgets, rising rents and the demand for data centers to continue.
-
Delinquent CRE Loans Are on the Rise: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter Banks are expanding their efforts to restructure CRE loans to avoid losses from the commercial real estate sector.
-
As Mortgage Rates Rise, Renting Is Now Cheaper Than Buying for Many: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter A jump in mortgage rates has caused housing affordability to slump and priced many first-time home buyers out of the market.
-
Rental Market Will Slow Through 2023: The Kiplinger LetterThe Kiplinger Letter Expected growth in the rental market is likely to remain slow for the rest of the year amid a slow housing market and cooling economy.
-
How to Set the Price to Sell Your Homereal estate If you're selling your home, setting the right price is crucial. Don't overprice or you'll scare away prospective buyers.
-
WFH Impact on Commercial Real Estate Market: Kiplinger Economic ForecastsEconomic Forecasts Commercial real estate continues to struggle. Office vacancies hit 18.9% in the second quarter of 2023.
-
Greenland, U.S. Plans to Boost Tourist Economy: Kiplinger Economic ForecastsEconomic Forecasts A U.S. congressional effort could see some Canadian visitors get longer stays, meanwhile, Greenland bids to be the next vacation hotspot.
