Curb Appeal

[Sterling White]

What is a cost effective way to make a property pop by adding curb appeal? 

@indianapolis 

Thanks! 

[Ryan Mullin]

Good question!   Appropriate for the weather today...   

I have found that for 300 - 500 bucks you can make a place really jump out from the competition...  assuming the property is already turnkey or rent ready or rehabbed..  whatever.  

A super basic flower bed -  sometimes black mulch sometimes red mulch.  You can use that black rubber lining for a border or some bricks or stones if you want spend the extra money.  Cheap bushes or flowers...  They don't need to last.  Just look good for photos and hopefully for a few weeks till it gets rented.  Then the tenant can do upkeep if they choose.  

Paint -  Sometimes you can add some serious color by just painting the trim.  Sometimes the concrete front porch needs a once over...  sometimes its the fence etc..  

Shutters - Often times if you add some plastic $30 - $50 ( really have no clue what they cost but I know my contractors get them cheap..) shutters on either side of front windows.  It can really make the house look a lot better.  adds color and breaks up the vinyl siding or what ever... 

Gable vents - Even if you don't actually need a vent they look great.  Have it match your shutters.  Should be equally as cheap... 

Hand rail - typically a rental will have a really crappy hand rail made out of plumbing materials from the 60's.  I personally hate this...  spring for a real hand rail.  

Fence - this is obviously more expensive.  But almost all of our rentals now have a fence.  Most have nice privacy fences in back and some we do a picket in front..   the picket fences in front make the house POP!  and it serves as an added feature that all tenants will use and appreciate...   also will be seen as a safety feature...  keeps unwanted people out of your yard.    

Hope that helps!