If you have a fire-damaged house that you are looking to sell, you may have heard that these types of homes are often difficult to move. But take heart, that doesn’t mean that it’s impossible. Truth is, there are many things you can do to spruce up your home and ultimately improve the outside of your fire-damaged house.

One of the things you can do is focus your attention not just on the inside of the home, where it is essential to repair fire damage, but also on the outside. After all, what is the first thing that passerbys see when approaching your home? It’s the outside of your house. Make that area look inviting and interest in your fire-damaged house will increase.

Following are some things you can do to improve the outside of your fire-damaged home.

But first a warning – before you take on any projects, it is important to remember that you are fixing up your home for the purpose of selling it. Avoid personalizing the improvements you make as this can limit your market. A limited market means you will usually endure a slower sale and possibly a lower sales price. Your goal should be to make the home as clean, attractive, well maintained and presentable as possible. One the home is sold the new owners can handle their own customizations.

Focus on Curb Appeal

One of the most important projects you can undertake when trying to sell your fire-damaged home is improving its “curb appeal.”

Remember that the outside of your home is the first thing potential homebuyers will notice about it. If you are able to improve the outside of your fire-damaged house, prospective buyers will want to view the interior as well. This is why it is important to begin working on the outside first.

Tidy Up

Begin by working your way around the property, picking up all the waste and trash you find. After you have finished picking up and throwing way all of the trash, make another tour of the property and do away with any clutter that might be present. Clutter may include:

• Yard care tools
• Kids’ toys
• Bicycles
• Tools

Simply removing all of the clutter and waste can make a huge difference to the exterior appearance of your home.

Trim the Shrubbery

Shrubbery and other greenery around your home that has taken on an unkempt look can be seen as a sign of neglect by prospective buyers. Make an effort to keep the shrubs and bushes neatly trimmed and shape to provide an overall impression that the entire property has been well-maintained and cared for.

For an additional touch, work to keep the shrubbery in-line with all other greenery, as well as outdoor decorations present on your property. This creates more of an appealing appearance from the street level and creates more interest as well.

If your shrubbery has grown so large that it makes approaching your property difficult, it could well be time to consider taking the shrubs out altogether. Remember that shrubbery that is too large makes your home appear smaller and can also create a safety hazard.

A couple of hours should be all it takes to get the job done. This is an inexpensive task that you can handle yourself; however, if you simply do not have the time or the ability or even the inclination to handle the job consider hiring a professional. The job should cost between $35 and $45 per hour; however, it is well worth this small investment in the end when your home is sold.

Plant Flowers

Flowers, particularly bright flowers can go a long way towards livening up the exterior of your home in an easy and inexpensive manner. The flowers you plan need not be exotic or expensive. Even cheap, low maintenance flowers such as the following work well:

• Marigolds
• Petunias
• Zinnias
• Sweet asylum
• Bachelor’s buttons

Your local garden center can help you in choosing the best selections for your location. Keep in mind; however, that annuals tend to be less expensive than perennials and they work just fine.

Try to mix a few bright colors such as yellow and pink to provide a happy appearance to the home. Plant your flowers in containers on porches, in flower beds and under windows to create varying levels of warmth and depth.

Landscaping: Mow the Lawn

A well manicured lawn is a sign of a property that has been well cared for. When you are trying to sell your home the landscaping of the front as well as the back should look its very best.

If you want to improve the outside of your fire-damaged house, you should know that landscaping adds a huge contribution to the overall resale value of your property. In fact, homes with excellent landscaping tend to sell for 5% higher than homes with inferior landscaping. Homes with poor landscaping can even sell for as much as 10% less. Obviously, this is a huge difference in the overall selling price of your fire-damaged home.

Maintain the Shutters

Shutters can add a charming touch to any home. When in good shape, they add a comforting, warm touch to any finish. However, if they are not well maintained, they can quickly make a home appear neglected.

The good news is that it does not require a lot of time or skill to repair shutters. With most shutters, a quick sanding and one to two coats of exterior house paint makes them look good as new.

Ideally, it is best to remove the shutters before you begin sanding and painting them. First, clean them of any dirt and then give them a light sanding. Wipe them down again to remove dust particles from the sanding. Now, you are ready to paint.

You may opt to spray paint or brush paint. Either choice provides a nice result. Be sure to allow them to dry completely before reattaching them to the home.

Touch-Up Painting

Many homes are made of brick with wooden trim. Generally, wooden trim is located on porches and on the ends of the home. As time passes, the wood trim can become worn and the paint may become cracked and dull.

A bit of touch-up paint can give your home a fresh new look. Depending on the amount of trim you have, it should not take more than three hours to complete the task.

In some cases, you may need to sand areas before you can paint them. Sanding helps the new paint to cure better than applying it directly to old paint-especially if there was a cracked surface. A palm sander works well for this project.

Sell Your Home to We Buy Fire Damaged Houses

Don’t have time to make these outside improvements to help your fire-damaged house sell faster?

Another option is to sell you home directly to us. We pay a great price and all in cash so that you can get your money fast.

Simply fill out the form below to see if your fire-damaged house qualifies for a free quote.