Experts say washing the exterior of your house can substantially increase its sale price. (Photo credit: ddraw — fotolia  #79291907 )

Your home’s curb appeal is the first chance to impress potential buyers.

Whether buyers are wowed by a beautiful and well-maintained yard or are repelled by dirty exterior walls and an overgrown lawn can significantly impact your home’s sales price if you’re thinking of selling it this spring.

“When buyers pull up to a house, they want to be able to picture themselves living in and coming home to it. Dead grass and chipped paint can make that all the more difficult to visualize,” said Claire Bisignano Chesnoff, president of the Staten Island Board of Realtors (SIBOR). “Making sure your home is prepared — both inside and out — before you put it on the market could help it sell faster and for top dollar.”

Here are a few tips to make sure your curb appeal is making the best impression on potential buyers:

  • Clean your house. “It’s not only the inside of your home that needs to be kept clean of dirt and grime, the outside of your home should be just as spotless,” said Ms. Bisignano Chesnoff. “Clean your outer walls with soapy water and wash your windows inside and out.” According to SIBOR, washing your house can substantially raise the sale price.
  • A new coat of paint. After you’ve cleaned your home’s exterior, the next step is to apply a fresh coat of paint. “A new coat of paint is like a face-lift for your home,” said Mrs. Bisignano Chesnoff. “But don’t try to make a statement with your home’s color. If your home is a wildly different color from the other homes in your neighborhood, it could negatively affect a buyer’s perception of the home’s value.”
  • A well-manicured yard.  Your front yard creates your home’s first impression to prospective buyers, so make sure that your lawn is green and trimmed and your shrubs and flower beds are well tended. “It is important to keep your yard neat, raking any fallen leaves and pulling any weeds,” said Mrs. Bisignano Chesnoff . “If there is a barren tree in your front yard, cut it down and replace it with grass.”
  • Repair the roof. If your roof is damaged, dirty or missing shingles, it can have a negative impact on the value of your home. If your neighbors’ roofs are well maintained or have been recently replaced, it will make yours look especially ragged. Sometimes a good cleaning is all you need to have your roof look like new. However, that isn’t a project you will want to take on yourself without the proper equipment; hire a professional with the right tools and training, who will be able to clean your roof without damaging it.

By making a few simple changes to your home’s exterior, you can increase your home’s value and hopefully help it sell more quickly.

About The Staten Island Board of REALTORS® (SIBOR)

Having marked its 100th anniversary in October 2015, the Staten Island Board of REALTORS® (SIBOR) is the largest not-for-profit professional and trade association in Staten Island, N.Y.

SIBOR exists to enhance the ability and opportunity of its members to conduct their business successfully and ethically, and promote the preservation of the public’s right to own, transfer and use real property.

Comprised of approximately 1,800 members, SIBOR serves real estate agents, brokers and affiliated professionals throughout the borough and surrounding areas.

SIBOR is the provider of the Staten Island Multiple Listing Service Inc. (SIMLS), which works as a clearinghouse through which more than 250 local real estate firms exchange information on properties they have listed for sale. Together, its members participate in over 3,700 real estate transactions every year.

All SIBOR Realtors belong to the New York State Association of REALTORS® (NYSAR) and the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).

SIBOR may be reached at 718-928-3220 and viewed online at www.SIBOR.com. SIBOR may also be visited on Facebook at “Staten Island Board of Realtors” and on Twitter via @SIBOR.

Media Contact: Barton Horowitz
Relevant Public Relations, LLC
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