I’m no realtor but having been on both the sell and buy side of real estate transactions recently I learned a thing or two about getting the deal you want in a timely manner. Realtors like to talk about curb appeal and how important it is that your home have it if you’re trying to sell.
I think it’s time they start talking about click appeal. That’s because far more home shopping is done online than in cars these days. Thanks to websites like realtor.com and zillow.com house hunters can search for homes matching their specific criteria (neighborhood, price, floor plan, etc.) without even talking to a realtor.
See what I mean? Take a look at these images of the house my wife and I bought nine months ago in Phoenix. Notice how just a few enhancements can make a dramatic impact.
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Which picture do you think people would click for more information? I’m pretty sure most of you would go with the ‘after’ pic.
This is what we did to boost our home’s curb appeal on a limited budget:
- Painted the exterior: $1,700
- Installed shade screens: $600
- Installed new exterior lights: $300
- Greened up the lawn: $25
- Trimmed the tree (borrowed trimmer): $0
If the first image potential buyers see isn’t appealing, they likely won’t click to find out more. That’s why, if you’re thinking about selling, your home must have outstanding click appeal before listing it.
Why wait till you try and sell it? Even if you have no plans to sell in the near future, get more out of the investment by enjoying the improved look while you live there. A small investment in click appeal will likely pay off for you in the end.
Paul Fiarkoski 