Front porch curb appeal matters.And, it matters a whole lot. In fact, it’s one of the biggest factors buyers take into account. Unfortunately, some sellers focus almost solely on the interior. That’s a big mistake because curb appeal is a great way to help market a home for sale. After all, it’s the very first thing people will see when they come to tour the home in person. Which means, there’s quite a bit you can do to help make your home stand out from its competition. So, let’s take a look at some helpful front porch curb appeal ideas.

What Sellers Need to Know about Curb Appeal

Before we get to the things which help sell a home, it’s time to get into the basics of curb appeal. Okay, so you’re probably thinking that curb appeal is only important when it comes to in-person showings. Or, that because buyers start their search on the internet, it’s second-fiddle. But, this simply isn’t the case at all. Sure, people who see a great interior will probably go the extra step to see the house with their own eyes.

“Today, curb appeal still matters — but it matters differently. Almost every buyer forms their first impression from a home’s online photos. Instead of driving to your home, buyers will scroll through pictures of both the outside and the inside, before ever stepping foot inside. What’s more, they may never come to see it if they don’t like what they see online. While the exterior of your home should be high on your priority list, it is most valuable only when the buyer walks up or drives by. But they may not ever get that far.” —Zillow.com

But, they might also wonder why there are no or very few, exterior online listing photos. Even if they do come out to see the home in-person, they’ll no doubt encounter the yard and exterior first. It’s important to note that people form an impression of a property in just 7 to 10 seconds. What’s more, only 1 out of 10 people can imagine a home in a way other than they first see it. So, the front porch curb appeal is extremely important.

Great Front Porch Curb Appeal Ideas

Now, what can you do to improve your home’s exterior look? How can you make the front porch curb appeal pop? Here are some helpful suggestions:

• Furniture. Tables and chairs are common. But less common is what we typically associate with the backyard. Imagine seeing a home with comfortable outdoor furniture right on the front porch. You’d probably think it looks inviting (which is the whole point).
• Porch lights. Your front porch might already be equipped with some lighting. But it might just need a little more to really make it an attractive feature. Not only for function but also to highlight the best features.
• Plants. Colorful flowers are a great way to dress up a front porch. You don’t have to turn it into a full-fledged atrium but a few well-placed, colorful plants will work wonders.
• Art. Okay, many people never even consider this as an option. Weather-resistant art is another way to dress-up the space. Here again, the less is more philosophy is the best way to go.
• Paint. A fresh coat of paint goes a long, long way. And, if there’s a ceiling, consider painting it, too. Blue is a great color and white works quite well. Not to mention a fresh coat of paint on the door strikes the eye.

If you’re going to sell your home in the near future and buy a new house, please don’t hesitate to phone me at 407-616-7286, I’ll be happy to speak with you.