5 ways to enhance your home’s curb appeal.

As long as the “For Sale” sign sits in the front yard of your home, the potential price it will bring is steadily dwindling. Real estate agents and homeowners need to work together to motivate buyers into a quick sale by making homes look as charming, well-maintained, and beautiful as possible. First impressions are key, so focus on boosting that curb appeal beyond simply mowing the lawn. Try these tips to freshen up your home’s outward appearance and make buyers want to see more.

Restore the Exterior
A can of paint is relatively cheap, but the difference it can make is night and day. Repainting the front door and trim gives the whole house a fresh look, especially when paired with a solid cleaning. Renting a pressure washer can cost as little as $25, and it can make dingy sidewalks and discolored siding look sparkling new again. Take caution to not cause damage to the home or to yourself, and let the clean siding save potential buyers the worry of considering replacement or overhauling the exterior themselves.

Update House Numbers
House numbers are often the first thing people see when the arrive. If the current numbers are tarnished, damaged, or missing altogether, consider installing a fresh set. Also rethink their location — should they be sandwiched between the garage doors, or instead next to the front door? This thoughtful update is cheap, fast, and can have a big impact on buyers.

Replace the Mailbox
As TV’s Dr. Frasier Crane once insightfully noted, “A mailbox is a house’s handshake.” Is your home’s current mailbox looking a tad weathered or rusty? When selecting a new mailbox, find one that matches the trim on the home or picks up on the color of the siding, and while you’re there, check on the condition of the post, as well.

Revamp Exterior Lighting
Replacing old-fashioned black sconces with modern glass or siding-matched fixtures can tie a home’s entryway together. If the current fixtures are up to date and in great condition, double-check that the light bulbs themselves are working and using the same type of bulb for a uniform glow.

Add Some Green
In this case, we’re not talking about the color (though blue-green has been picked as one of the “hot” colors for 2017 decor). Planting trees or professionally landscaping the yard with shrubs and flowers can sometimes saddle buyers with extraneous maintenance. Instead of making big landscaping decisions for the buyers, place some large potted plants on the porch or near the entry. Foliage works wonders to personalize the home and help your hopeful buyer to picture themselves living there. Flower boxes installed smartly around the exterior amplifies this effect.

Sam Radbil is a contributing member of the marketing and communications team at ABODO, an online apartment marketplace. ABODO was founded in 2013 in Madison, Wisconsin. And in just three years, the company has grown to more than 30 employees, raised over $8M in outside funding and helps more than half a million renters find a new home each month.