Part 2 - Dear Seller, Let's Upgrade You(r) Exterior

Contributor to #CharkInvest
Apr 25, 2017
3 min read

With Spring comes warmer weather, longer days, and a fresh crop of home buyers, eager to find the right home to purchase. With so many new homes on the market, it can be tough to stand out in the crowd, but a few inexpensive enhancements could be enough to do the trick. The following upgrades each come in under $1,000, and should certainly be considered prior to listing the home for sale.

Landscaping

First impressions carry a lot of weight, with landscaping accounting for about 20% of a home’s value. Without curb appeal, many buyers won’t make it past the yard, let alone make an offer on your home. Whether you fill in the grass, add a few plants, or spruce up your patio, there are a few landscaping updates to consider to give the exterior of your home a much needed facelift, and get it ready to sell.

*ASSOCIATED COSTS*

To cover the entire yard, landscaping generally costs between $5 and $8 a square foot.

Plants: Depending on the type of flowers or plants selected, you can add both color and interest with some flower beds for around $500.
Patio: Consider installing a patio to add some eye candy and a place for the new owners to take in some fresh air. Concrete will run you about $6- $7 square foot while decorative flagstone is a bit more, at $15 – $30 per square foot.
Grass: If time is on your side, you can fill in a sparse lawn with grass seed for only $0.05 a square foot. If not, artificial turf is another option at $8-$12 per sqft.

Roof Repair's

Checking your roof for leaks and damages should be on every homeowners list of things to do in the Spring. If you have noticed leaks or water damage in the form of water stains, broken, curling, damaged, or deteriorating shingles, or the smell of mold or mildew in the attic, you should definitely address it sooner than later. Often times, you can save money by doing roof repairs rather than replacing the whole roof.

*ASSOCIATED COSTS*

Depending on the size of the roof, the number of stories of the home, and the extent of the damage, roof repairs run around $500 – $600. This includes the cost of shingles, which are sold by the square or roughly 100 square feet, and average $1.25 to $2 a square foot as well as a roofing contractor. For a roofing contractor, you can expect to pay about $3 per square foot for a leak project, or $45 – $75 per hour. For a house with more than one level, expect costs to rise $50-$100 per each additional story.

Window Cleaning/Replacement

Nothing reads “DON’T BUY” louder than grimy windows covered in a dingy looking coat of green pollen. Cleaning your windows can help increase the flow of natural sunlight, and make a good impression with potential buyers. In the process of cleaning, it is a good idea to repair any damaged windows to help a home maintain its current sale value. After cleaning, be sure to swap out heavy Winter drapes for light, airy Spring versions to add to the fresh look.

*ASSOCIATED COSTS*

Window cleaning (inside and out): around $300 to $400
Broken window frame repairs: around $480
Broken glass replacement: around $290

Siding Repairs

Siding also plays an important role in a home’s curb appeal. While a Spring cleaning will help freshen up the color, siding can become damaged after a long winter. Regardless of the type of siding a home has, potential buyers will notice damage such as rotting wood, cracked vinyl, or dented aluminum. To help turn up or maintain curb appeal, (which can help your home sell faster) repair what you can, and replace your siding as needed.

*ASSOCIATED COSTS*