PROPERTYSPARK ARTICLE

How to Clean Up a Home’s Exterior Before Selling

Hose and Pressure Wash

Your home’s siding, roof, paint, and doors all take wear and tear from time and the elements. Your home exterior is exposed to the outside world at all times. Stains, fading, and discolorations are quite common. Many stains can be removed with a simple hosing session to clean off debris or dirt stuck on the interior. If the debris has been there a long time, you may need to use a pressure washer, which uses water at a much faster rate to clean more efficiently. Use caution when handling a pressure washer, or hire a professional to do it for you. Windows, car paint, asphalt shingles, or delicate wood are among the many materials that shouldn’t be pressure washed. Ensure your home’s siding can handle pressure washing before using.

Mow the Lawn

Lawn overgrowth can look unkempt, bring in pests, and give a bad first impression to potential buyers. Thankfully, mowing the lawn is a quick fix that can make a yard look pristine and polished. Lawn grows back quickly, so you’ll need access to a mower and edge trimmer to keep it looking great during the entire listing process. You can hire landscapers, rent equipment, or even buy equipment. Landscapers will make the process quick and easy for you, but it’ll cost a fair amount of money. Renting equipment means you’ll have to do it yourself but at lower equipment rates. Buying the equipment provides long-term value at the expense of doing the lawn care yourself. Take advantage of local suppliers in your area if you do go the purchase route. I found some local stores selling lawn mowers for sale near me at great prices.

Clean or Repair the Driveway

While a home’s driveway may not seem like a big deal to home buyers, it contributes to the big picture when taking in the exterior conditions. The driveway takes a lot of damage over time. Weather, cars, and footsteps can contribute to stains or cracks. You can repair most cracks with some concrete filler, but you can also repave the driveway if the cracks are extensive. You can also hose down or pressure wash driveways to remove most stains and return them to a new appearance.

Trim Trees and Bushes

Overgrowth can invite pests closer to home, block off pathways, and damage the exterior. You’ll want to keep trees freshly trimmed and pruned for this reason. Bushes shouldn’t block pathways or cover window views. Weeds can contribute to a wild look, which some buyers may not appreciate; it’s best to keep weeds to a minimum. Trimming and pruning require some shears and elbow grease. If you’re unsure how to make the landscaping look pristine, you can consult with a professional landscaper.

Apply Fresh Ground Cover

If your home has flowerbeds or pathways made from natural ground cover, you’ll want a fresh layer. Over time, ground cover can disperse or lose its luster, aging the exterior and entire home along with it. You can purchase some bulk ground cover like soil, gravel, or mulch at affordable prices to line pathways and flowerbeds. A fresh layer can help plant growth and make a yard look manicured and fresh. It’s a simple fix that can impress potential buyers.

Remove Trash or Debris

If broken equipment or playgrounds are on your lawn, throw them out or recycle them to avoid an unpleasant first impression. Lawns should be kept clean and tastefully decorated during a tour or show. Excessive trash, including trash cans, should be removed or kept completely out of sight. Gather any litter around the yard, driveway, and garage and toss it. This includes unused or junk cars, too! Keep the exterior pristine.

Get Rid of Pests

Excess plant growth or a lapse in yard care can invite pests to the yard and home exterior. Eliminate any pests that affect the safety or structure of the home, like termites or wasp nests. Bugs and spiders can deter homebuyers from touring, so you’ll want to use preventative measures around the house’s perimeter to avoid infestations. Bugs live outside, so you can’t get rid of them all, but they shouldn’t present a safety hazard to guests or owners.

Make Small Repairs

Small maintenance repairs can be neglected over time, but it’s best to make them before buyers arrive. For example, you can change exterior light bulbs, fix cracks in the driveway, ensure the mailbox is in good shape, repaint any chipped surfaces, or correct a gap in the fence. These small issues can add up and cause stress to buyers, so it’s best to tackle them to leave a good impression.

Conclusion

A clean, decorated, and tidy home exterior can create a favorable first impression with prospective buyers, increasing the chances of getting a fair offer. You may even receive a higher asking price when your home is in pristine condition. While you don’t want to renovate the entire yard, you can make small repairs and cleaning sessions to make the outside of the home look brand new.