The Porch Test…. Pass Or Fail?

Every street usually has that one porch that makes you smile when you drive by. You know the one – hanging plant, rocking chairs, a colorful flag announcing Fall and that 6-foot long plank with paw prints bought at Home Goods, that shouts WELCOME!

Then there’s the other kind: cracked paint, dead plant, broken step, and maybe last Christmas’s wreath still hanging on for dear life. (No judgment — we’ve all been there.)

Some realtors call it curb appeal, I call it The Porch Test. The Porch Test is that split-second first impression a house gives you before you even step inside. And you don’t have to be a realtor to feel it — friends, delivery drivers, and of course potential buyers pick up on it instantly. A porch that says “Come on in!” usually has a few simple things going for it:

• A handsome light fixture with a bulb that works (you’d be surprised how
  many don’t).
• A welcome mat or signage and a front door that’s not ashamed of itself.
• Maybe a chair, a plant, or something that says “We live here, and we like it.”

Now, I’m not saying your porch has to look like something out of HGTV, but think about it this way: when a potential buyer pulls up to your home, that porch is your handshake. It tells them what kind of care – or deferred maintenance – they might find inside.

I’ve walked up onto hundreds of porches, and I can tell you, the story they tell is usually pretty accurate. If the porch is cared for, odds are the home is too. And if it looks like the porch is in witness protection… Houston, we’ve got a problem.

What can you do? Well, here’s a little project for this week

Walk outside, turn around, and really look at your front steps and entry. Pretend you’re seeing it for the first time. What’s it saying about your home? About you?

Power washing or a coat of paint, a couple of ferns and a rocking chair probably wont break the bank — but they could change someone’s first impression.

And that, in real estate and in life, is worth more than you’d think. Until next time — keep your porch (and your coffee) warm.

Thinking about a move this fall — or just want a fresh set of eyes on your home’s curb appeal? I’d be happy to stop by and make a few suggestions. The front porch is always a good place to start!

Have a great week,

Sal Busacca
Realtor® and Team Leader
Dunrovin Properties SC
Keller Williams Greenville Central
Mail: BetterCallSal@kw.com
Phone:  864-952-7251
Not just a home – a lifestyle change

213 Harts Lane, Simpsonville
…at the intersection of nature and modern living
3 Bedrooms, 3 Baths and 3271 SF of Country Living
2.77 acres and no HOA!

Listing Courtesy Of: Keller Williams Greenville Central, Sal Busacca, Listing Agent
Click image to for more pics and info
Call or email Sal
864 952-7251
bettercallsal@kw.com
or Mike 732 865-5036
for more info or a private showing