Curb appeal is a term that real estate agents use to describe the appearance of a property’s exterior. An house with attractive curb appeal has a lot of benefits for your commercial property. It can increase the value of your property and help to boosting sales prices.
The exterior of your property plays a significant role in attracting both investors and customers. That’s why it needs to be neat and attractive. You’ll also portray your brand as credible and reliable with a good curb appeal.
Here are the steps you can take to create a curb appeal for your commercial property.
1. Repair the Exterior
Before doing anything else, make sure all the structures on the exterior of your commercial property are in good shape. Checking the exterior of your home is the best way to make an excellent expression to your potential customers.
Check your roof, windows, gutters, cladding, and other exterior features for any damage that needs repairs. To make your work easier, you can develop a building repair checklist to ensure you perform the inspection thoroughly.
You can choose some easy repair works and do them on your own. Hire an expert to do the rest. Next, you can paint the exterior of your property to make it look as good as new.
2. Erect a New Signage
The signage is something many commercial property owners like to ignore. If you have ignored your signage for a while because you don’t want to think about it, you need to change that attitude. First impressions, especially in business, matter a lot. Remember, signage is the first thing your visitors see when they approach your property.
Some customers will form an opinion about your business by looking at your signage. The way your signage looks may make you gain or lose a customer. Old and worn signage shows that you aren’t serious and your business isn’t reliable or credible.
If your signage still stands strong, you can repair it and give it some face-lifting. But if it’s in bad shape, you can do away with it and erect a new one.
3. Check the Condition of Your Fence
A fence is a vital component of your commercial property. If you have an already existing fence, inspect it thoroughly to identify areas that need fixing. If it’s a live fence, such as trees or shrubs, make sure you trim the unsightly branches and leaves. You can also cut dead branches, which not only makes your property look better, but it may reduce damage to your property.
Find out if there are any gaps in the fence, then plant new trees to cover them. If you have a concrete or brick fence, make sure it has no cracks and the paint looks fresh. If you don’t have a fence, you can consider erecting one if the space allows. A fence will not only improve your curb appeal, but will also provide security to your property. Remember that people also like to deal with businesses they feel are secure.
4. Paint Your Parking Lot
When sprucing up the exterior of your commercial property, don’t forget the parking lot. First, check the lines to find out whether they are still visible. If not, you can apply fresh paint. Also, make sure the parking area has enough lighting for security purposes. That way, your customers feel safe entering your property no matter what time of the year it is.
- Sustainability
Sustainability refers to how long the materials you use on your landscape will last. When you are selecting building materials, think about their quality and energy efficiency. These two qualities have a direct impact on your company overhead.
For example, if you construct window boxes using non-waterproof materials, you’ll likely have to replace them after a few months. Also, when selecting bulbs, make sure you choose ones that won’t burn out within a few days. You can also consider erecting a brick or concrete fence with low maintenance costs as well.
6. Update the Exterior Windows
Your windows are among the things your visitors will look at before entering your premises. So, don’t neglect them, because they are good at increasing your curb appeal. Windows affect the way your premises look from the outside and affect the internal environment. Invest in windows that provide noise insulation, are attractive, and allow sunlight into the room.
In addition, windows that keep the interior warm can help you save on your utility bills. So investing in modern windows is one of the things you need to consider when improving the look of your commercial property. They’ll not only improve your property’s curb appeal, but will also increase its value.
7. Light Up Your Entrance
When designing your landscape, think about how it will look at night. The starting point for landscape design is your entrance. You don’t want your entrance to be dark at night. Adding some lights at the entrance will make visitors feel like they are making an entry. The lights will also bring a sense of security and openness or honesty. After lighting the entrance, don’t forget other areas that can get very dark at night.
Outdoor lights provide security at night for your commercial property. To lower lighting costs, use LED lights, particularly those lights that can sense motion. Also, you can use solar energy instead of powering your light using electricity. Finally, remember to choose appropriate light colors for different sections of your landscape. Using the right color lights can highlight specific aspects of your property.
8. Landscaping Ideas
You can have the most attractive building in the business district, but people will not take your business seriously when the exterior surroundings are dirty. You can lose many customers because you have neglected the landscape around your business.
If you need landscaping ideas, think about planting flowers, designing attractive walkways, planting trees, or leveling the rough terrain. Developing an attractive landscape may require you to hire an expert landscaper. Landscapers or landscape designers are professionals who know what’s best for your landscape.
Landscapers know which flowers, plants, and shrubs can grow in your climate and help improve your curb appeal. You can think about using window boxes to decorate your windows and adding some flowers in hanging baskets.
Conclusion
Improving the curb appeal of your commercial property isn’t just about making it look attractive. It’s also about increasing its value so it can fetch you more cash if you sell it in the future.
Some of the methods used to improve curb appeal discussed above are easy, and you can do them on your own. However, some–like designing the landscape and irrigating it– may require the hands of an expert. When hiring an expert, choose one with experience in the climate you live in. That way, your commercial property looks amazing year round.