Years ago, searching for a home included driving the neighborhoods you wanted to live in and picking possibilities based off how the property looked from the curb. At that time, the importance of curb appeal was quite obvious. Today however, most people begin their search by visiting websites such as realtor.ca and narrowing their searches to a few possibilities before ever getting close to the property. With the majority of home searches being done online, how important is curb appeal today?

Think of when you are searching for a home, what is the first thing you do? It should be picking up that phone and calling a Realtor^® such as Ryan, but we will discuss that another time. Most people sit in front of the computer and start browsing the properties in certain areas of the city that are closer to work, closer to family, or just in a location of convenience or desire.  Many begin their online search before even knowing what their budget is. This is all thanks to the ease at which they can dream of what their new home may be. I don’t blame them. I enjoy it too. That is why I am in Real Estate.

For people who are searching online, they become very familiar with the homes before ever seeing it in person. They know the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, have seen the kitchen and living room, have made judgments based off pictures if it is too big or small, and have already predetermined if it is possibly the right home for them. So what is the importance of curb appeal if at all?

Most likely the Real Estate Agent that listed the property has provided a picture of the front of the house and in many cases it is the first picture that people will see. So immediately they are presented with what is essentially a picture of the curb appeal of the property. But it is only one of many pictures and on its own is not the main deciding point on whether you fall in love with the property or not. It is all the other pictures that persuade you to go and see the property in person.

So let’s say you have narrowed it down to two properties and decide to go and view them. As you drive up to the first home, it has an immaculate lawn with beautiful flowers. When you arrive at the second property the grass is patchy with some areas that are dead and yellow and others that are just dirt. There are weeds creeping out and there is even some litter on the lawn. Most people would think – if even subconsciously – that the first house with immaculate lawn and flowers is much better taken care of and maintained on the inside as well, when compared to the property less cared for. This includes a preconceived notion that such things as the roof, windows, furnace, etc are all better maintained in the property with the nice lawn.

But these are extremes and the majority of properties naturally fall somewhere in between them. Besides, curb appeal is much more than this. Curb appeal is your first impression when you arrive at the property. Does it feel warm and inviting? Is it pretty and eye catching? Can you see yourself calling this place home? It is very important to make sure that when someone has narrowed their choices to included a possible home, that their first impression when they arrive is a good one. Actually, you better make sure it is a great one.

So yes, in today’s market less people are influenced by a properties curb appeal since they do the majority of their searches on line, but the importance of curb appeal is just as important today as it was years ago if not more so. If someone is excited about a particular property and very disappointed by the lack of curb appeal when they arrive, they will carry that disappointment with them as they enter and view the property. Instead, make it a great first impression so people are impressed when they arrive and instead carry that feeling with them as they view the rest of the property. Set the tone and atmosphere of the visit at the curb.

With the importance of curb appeal, you may be left asking how to increase or improve upon YOUR curb appeal. Please visit the article How To Improve Curb Appeal for more information.