
If you’ve ever house hunted and/or sold your home, you know the importance of curb appeal. However, the one very specific element that potential home buyers tend to notice first might surprise you.
Turns out, when viewing a home, the first thing people tend to notice are the front stairs. This might seem oddly specific, but according to Sabine H. Schoenberg, realtor and founder of Smart Healthy Green Living, the little details are increasingly important when showcasing your home.
“In the old days, we called it the ‘windshield effect,'” Schoenberg said. “We’d tell them to put away garbage cans and make sure there are no toys in the front yard. Now, that goes even deeper. I say to my sellers, ‘What do your front steps look like? Are the planters in good shape?'”
Why the steps, though? Schoenberg explained that buyers have typically spent a lot of time researching your home and looking at photos—most likely, more than once. That’s why, when prospective buyers arrive, it’s important that your home looks the same way in person as it does online—even down to the steps.
If you’re thinking of selling or your home is already on the market, there are quite a few things you can do to boost your property’s curb appeal, and none of them will break the bank.
[Via PureWow]