When a potential buyer arrives at the curb to view your home for the first time, what do they see? Just as importantly, what's their first impression when they scroll to your listing online? In both cases, curb appeal is an essential element of marketing your home. Our real estate agents have more on the role of curb appeal when you're listing a home in Albany, Corvallis, or Lebanon.

The Role of Curb Appeal in a Scroll-First Home Search Era

Curb Appeal Remains Crucial, and Tastes Are Shifting

A recent article from REALTOR.com does a great job outlining some of the factors that have changed with curb appeal, based on how people shop for homes online and how tastes are evolving for today's generation of homebuyers. The key takeaway is that curb appeal remains as important today as it ever has been, but that many buyers are looking for a style of curb appeal that wouldn't have been standard 10 or 20 years ago.

But Some Things Remain the Same

While tastes have changed in some ways, there are still commonalities with curb appeal that will be familiar to anyone who's sold a home in the past. Buyers still want to see a well-maintained yard, with visually appealing landscaping, minimal clutter, and clean surfaces.

They also want to see a well-maintained home, from the vibrant exterior paint to clean gutters, windows, and a structurally sound foundation. The front door is still a key focus for buyers, too. Applying a fresh coat of paint and updating door fixtures remain among the more cost-effective ways to boost curb appeal.

How Tastes Have Changed with Landscaping

When buyers scroll to your listing today, one of the big changes in curb appeal is that many buyers prefer a simpler, more streamlined look for landscaping. With many buyers purchasing their first home at a later age than in the past, they're often juggling the responsibilities of work and raising a young family. Time is a valuable resource, so they want curb appeal that looks great with minimal maintenance requirements.

Rather than gardens packed with flowers and shrubs all around the home, many buyers prefer a more minimalist look, with native plants that look natural in the environment, but not so many that maintenance becomes a major headache. The phrase "effortlessly maintained" is a common refrain from curb appeal experts quoted in the REALTOR.com article.

Outdoor Living Spaces Have Major Appeal

Today's buyers also love seeing usable, livable outdoor spaces around homes, a trend that has grown in popularity over many years. These don't have to be over-complicated spaces, either, as shaded seating areas rank among the most desired features for homes. A well-maintained, inviting patio with comfortable seating is as appealing today as it's ever been. If you're looking for a way to boost curb appeal outside of landscaping, you can't go wrong by focusing on the patio.

Don't Forget High-Quality Photography

Since we live in a "scroll-first" era, you definitely don't want to compromise all the hard work you put into your home's curb appeal by having grainy, low-quality photos posted with your listing. Professional photography is essential, as your online listing will be what leaves your home's first impression on so many buyers.

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