Stop buyers in their tracks with a driveway project

Street appeal is one of the most important aspects of any campaign to sell a home. A failure to make a good first impression creates an invisible barrier with every prospective buyer.

Even in a seller’s market, it’s important to make a favorable impact as it helps you simultaneously compete with similar homes in the neighborhood and maximize the value of your biggest financial asset.

As an experienced agent, I always stress to my clients the importance of preparing your home meticulously before putting it onto the market. 

It’s critical to spend time and a little bit of cash to help prospective buyers imagine how happy they’d be living in your home. You want them to imagine the next chapter of their lives rather than make a list of everything that they’ll need to fix. 

I can guide you on buyer trends and expectations, and advise you on the most cost-effective improvements you can make to your home.

A common project to help make great impression to repaint the driveway. It’s cheap and easy to fix if the surface is wearing thin or cracks have appeared. It’s also a great maintenance project to keep your home looking smart. 

Below is an outline on how you should approach this task. 

Crack audit

Inspect your driveway for cracks. There are numerous products that offer durable filler cement that will take the wear and tear of a driveway.

Choose the right paint

Ask your favorite retailer to recommend specialist primer and paint suitable for driveways. Standard house paint won’t do the job. Concrete paints should also have non-slip properties. 

Clean up your act

While the filler in any cracks is setting, mask the edges of the driveway so you don’t splash garage doors or fencing with paint. Then, clean the driveway thoroughly. Dirt and dust will prevent the paint from sticking to the surface. 

Prime time

Use a hard-bristle broom to apply your primer. Read the manufacturer’s instructions, as some primers should hosed off after 15 minutes.

Applying your paint

Do the edges with a brush first. Then, with a roller, paint from the back corner to the end of the driveway. A quarter-cup of mineral turpentine can make the paint easier to work. But ask your retailer if that’s necessary.

Admire and wait

Most paints will be touch dry in four hours, but that doesn’t mean you should walk on the surface. Wait at least 16 hours to apply a second coat. Once done, let it dry for seven days before driving over it.