What Counts as “Curb” Appeal for Condos?
When it comes to real estate, the manner in which you approach a sale depends on what type of property you are trying to sell. It’s true that many of the essential processes and steps can be applied across the board when selling any type of property, but condos, in particular, require a slightly different approach.
As you prepare a condo to be listed for sale, the concept, preparation, and application of curb appeal is a little different than that of a house. In fact, most people don’t even consider the exterior aspects of a condo until it’s too late. This is obviously due to the fact that a condo has no front yard. With condos, you most often have a shared entrance or lobby, and residents typically have no opportunity to influence how these common areas look on a day-to-day basis. A condominium’s exterior appearance is instead determined by a property manager or Board of Directors, and their interests lie with the property or community as a whole, not with one resident or dwelling.
So, what can you do to increase your condo’s curb appeal with so many restrictions in place? You’ll be happy to know that you have more options than you may have originally thought. You simply have to take a more creative approach. It’s all about staging, but for those who want to really think outside of the box, here are a few things that you may not have thought of that can help increase your condo’s curb appeal:
The Front Door
When a potential buyer pulls up to your unit, one of the first things that they will notice is the front entrance. While you probably can’t throw an eye-catching coat of paint on your door to make it more inviting, as condominium building colors must match, you can submit a request to your property manager to give it a slight face-lift. This is particularly useful for covering up those unavoidable dings and scratches that come from everyday use. Ask your HOA for a new coat of paint, or ask for the specific color so that you can do it yourself with plenty of time to spare before buyers come knocking.
The Balcony or Porch
Your outside façade, whether it’s your front porch or balcony, is another eye-catching element that potential buyers will notice first. Buildings have their own codes and regulations that pertain to architectural design and safety that you likely won’t be able to change, but you can still make your outside space beautiful and presentable. If your building allows furniture, and you have nice furnishings, be sure that they are completely clean of any outdoor accumulation and are staged in an appealing manner.
If you are allowed to have potted plants and flowers, make sure that yours are neatly arranged, healthy and alive. No one wants to pull up and see a dead, neglected garden. It’s best to avoid starting off on that foot. But, when arranging, remember the golden rule that less is more. Don’t over-clutter; that will make the space look small and cramped.
The Windows
As soon as they get through the door, your home’s future buyers are going to walk over to your windows and check out the view. Make sure that their view is clean and unobstructed. Take the time to thoroughly clean all of your windows (at least those that you have access to) so that you can really show off all of your condo’s best attributes. For those windows that you may not have access to, again, submit a request for a cleaning to your HOA. Great views are always a huge selling point for condo buyers, so don’t be afraid to really play that element up in your listing.
Remember, first impressions are everything, especially when it comes to real estate. Once they pass, they’re difficult to change. But, so long as you take note from the list of tips that we’ve provided, here, and recruit the help of an excellent real estate agency, like Eric Booth Realty, you can increase your condo’s curb appeal for a successful sale.
