When it comes to maximizing the selling potential of your home, think about creating a “big personality.” The goal is to have your home stand out (in a positive way) from the crowd of all the other homes for sale. Make a good first impression with potential homebuyers by using the front entrance of your home to maximize curb appeal.
Front Entrance Tips That Maximize Curb Appeal
The front entrance of your home is both the first and last thing homebuyers will see when they visit your real estate property. There are several things you can due to spruce up the entrance so that homebuyers will have an immediately memorable experience when they enter your home. While there are a number of ways to maximize the curb appeal of your home in general, the following tips apply specifically to the front entrance of your home. The best part is that these tips are easy to implement and will help you achieve a good return on investment from the sale of your home.
Make a Statement with Your Front Door
If anything is going to leave a first impression, it’s your front door. If the front door to your home is squeaky, old, or damaged in any way, it definitely should be replaced in order to maximize curb appeal. Your front door can also be used as a way to make a statement about the style of your home and the message you want to convey to homebuyers. Is your home a classic Victorian or modern, bold, and hip? Your front door can say it all.
There are certain rules and factors to keep in mind when choosing a new front door:
• Use materials that reflect the overall style of your home.
• Choose a color that pops but does not clash with the rest of your home’s exterior.
• Aim for both function and aesthetics. A front door should provide adequate security for your home.
• Play with styles and shapes that compliment your home’s exterior.
The right front door will make a bold impression on homebuyers and will also be a valuable security feature of your home.
Liven up the Entrance with Plants
Beautiful and well-placed plants are a perfect way to liven up the front entrance of your home. Considering that many San Francisco homes do not have front yards, plants are an especially great way to maximize curb appeal in San Francisco.
As with your front door, choose plants that compliment the exterior style of your home. The plants you choose will convey a message and evoke emotion. Think dripping vines of jasmine for a romantic feel or manicured shrubs in sleek black pots for a minimalist look. Succulents do particularly well in San Francisco’s climate and offer a variety of style options.
Don’t be afraid to think outside the pot. Plants can be hung in baskets, pots of different sizes and colors can be utilized to create a motif, vines can be draped, and vertical plant walls can adorn your home’s exterior. To really add value, choose plants that provide a function, such as hearty herbs like rosemary that can be used for cooking, or flowers such as roses that create a pleasant scent.
Follow Your Nose
Is there anything about the front entrance of your home that doesn’t smell right? A bad smell will be the wrong kind of memorable to homebuyers. If anything smells musty or moldy, be sure to find the source of the problem and fix it.
The area of the brain that processes memory and emotion is closely connected to the same area that processes smell. This means that smell can trigger memories and emotions, and potential homebuyers are no exception. Choose pleasant-smelling herbs and flowers to invoke a positive experience as people enter your home. Use natural cleaners on your front entrance with a light scent instead of cleaners that leave a harsh, chemical odor. Just as with perfume, the goal is to have a front entrance that has a fresh, light scent rather than one that is overwhelming.
Apply a Fresh Coat of Paint
Applying a fresh coat of paint or varnish is the easiest and often most cost effective way to spruce up the front entrance of your home and maximize curb appeal. Colors that really pop will immediately make an impression on homebuyers and are even a feature that is expected in a city filled with colorful houses like San Francisco.
A fresh coat of paint will make your home appear new and clean and well-looked after. Feel free to choose a wide color palette that will allow you play around with color and style. Paint does not need to be limited to exterior walls; a fresh coat to trim, plant boxes, stairs, and banisters is always a good way to maximize first impressions.
Adore with Adornments
Add charm and pizzazz with adornments. These little extras should not be overlooked when it comes to sprucing up the front entrance of your home and maximizing curb appeal. Front entrance adornments include, but are not limited to:
• Light fixtures
• Trim
• Door knobs
• Door knockers
• Mail slots
• Windchimes
• Plants
• Garden statues
• Sculptures
Front entrance adornments are perfect for showcasing both the exterior and interior styles of your home. Think of adornments as providing a little taste of what homebuyers will see once they are inside your home. These little details can make all the difference in leaving a big first impression or a mediocre one.
As top San Francisco Realtors, Danielle Lazier :: SFhotlist Team and Keller Williams San Francisco specialize in maximizing curb appeal and getting clients the best return on their real estate investments. If your looking to sell (or buy) a home in San Francisco, reach out and let’s maximize the potential of your real estate listing.
