Curb appeal is important in the summer and it’s also much easier to achieve when everything’s green, blooming, and vibrant.
What happens when the seasons change? How can you keep your clients’ home looking friendly and stylish when the trees don’t have leaves, the lawn is covered in snow, and nature’s colors are subdued?
Never fear! With a little creativity, there are plenty of ways to boost the curb appeal of your client’s home!
Subtle, tasteful decorations increase how inviting your client’s home looks from the street. Just be careful not to go overboard with yard decorations. Giant inflatable lawn snow globes with lights and music might thrill the neighborhood kids, but they won’t attract serious buyers.
Make the home stand out against a fall or winter backdrop by painting:
What is curb appeal?
Curb appeal refers to how stylish, polished, and welcoming a home appears from the outside. Good curb appeal can significantly increase a homeowner’s chance of selling a house quickly, and that’s where design professionals come in! Keeping up the outside of your client’s home does more than just reflect the homeowner’s style or impress their neighbors:- A fresh coat of weather resistant paint actually protects the outer walls
- Clearing leaves from the gutters stops blockages and leaks in the spring
- Regular care on the outside and in the yard increases the home’s longevity
Who needs curb appeal?
Any home will benefit from a good curb appeal! It’s especially important to people who are interested in selling their house or attracting renters. If the outside of the home is run down, peeling, and looks like it might be riddled with problems, it won’t matter whether it’s actually stylish and in good condition on the inside. Exterior upkeep is crucial to helping your clients show the home and close the deal!How can you create curb appeal in the fall and winter?
Flowers and hours of bright sunshine are nice, but there are other ways to transform the outside of a house. Check out these techniques for creating curb appeal in the colder months!1. Seasonal decorations
Depending on where you live, your client’s adorable lawn gnomes and whimsical wind chimes will end up buried in leaves or weighed down by snow. Just like you rotate seasonal decorations on the inside, transition from summer to fall and winter accessories outside too.- An array of pumpkins and gourds on the porch is a nice fall touch
- An impressive wreath with a pretty red ribbon is a winter classic
Subtle, tasteful decorations increase how inviting your client’s home looks from the street. Just be careful not to go overboard with yard decorations. Giant inflatable lawn snow globes with lights and music might thrill the neighborhood kids, but they won’t attract serious buyers.
2. Clear walkways
Increasing curb appeal can be aesthetic and functional. If a potential buyer approaches your client’s home and has to search under leaves for the path to the door, they might pass on looking inside. Buyers will definitely turn away if they can’t even get to the path due to three feet of snow. Encourage your clients to keep their pathways clear, not just because it looks more inviting but also because it’s safer!3. Fresh paint
Like clearing the walkways, putting a fresh coat of paint on the outer walls of the house is useful in more ways than one.- Stripping off old layers and applying a coat of new weather resistant paint actually protects the walls from seasonal wear and tear
- Fresh paint gives the scene a refreshing splash of color while the yard lacks flowers, leaves, and grass
4. Lighting
Outdoor lighting completely transforms your client’s house, especially in the winter. When the days end so early, chances are high that potential buyers will drive by for a look after dark. The house will look much more appealing with:- A few twinkling white or colored lights in the tree
- A vintage lantern hanging on either side of the door frame
- Small lamps lining the pathway for safety and aesthetic
5. Seasonal plants
You don’t have sunflowers, roses, and pansies to work with in the fall and winter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t include plants in your curb appeal scheme! Some bushes, trees, and flowers thrive in cold weather, making them the perfect decorative pieces for your client’s fall and winter yard. Give the scene a little life with:- Well-trimmed fir trees in colorful outdoor planters
- Blue holly plants with bright red berries
- Flowers that bloom in cold weather such as winter hazel
6. Keep your deck alive
Many homeowners move or cover their deck furniture and pile their outdoor yard equipment on the deck for the winter. Though it might be a hassle and requires some creative storage solutions, try to keep the deck or porch looking neat and as though the clients use it all year long. Who knows, your clients might actually start using their deck in the winter if it’s suddenly accessible!7. Winterize your water display
Water features are appealing in the summer and the winter. For clients who are willing to invest in a statement piece, keep the fountain or pond (and pond life!) from freezing by setting up an aerator, a de-icer, and a small heater. These accessories are available from the same home and garden stores that also sell fountains and home pond set ups. Rippling water in a yard surrounded by a frozen, still setting creates an appealing and almost romantic contrast.8. Add some color
If painting the outer walls a bright color is too much for your clients, consider painting accent features instead. This adds a splash of color to the neutral surroundings, letting your clients pick a brighter hue than they might want on the entire outside of the house.
Make the home stand out against a fall or winter backdrop by painting:
- The door
- The door frame
- The window frames
- The fence
- The front gate
- The mail box