What is curb appeal?
Curb appeal is a term used to describe the attractiveness of a property and its surroundings when viewed from the street. Curb appeal is the first impression that your business makes on potential customers – and first impressions count.
While the term is often used when trying to sell private real estate, curb appeal has value every day for small businesses and communities.
How much does curb appeal matter?
Customers are more likely to frequent a business that appears cared for. They like modern, clean, and well-lit properties.
Do you see what customers see? Business owners commonly park at the back of the building and enter through the back door. Additionally, you may no longer notice unappealing features if you see them over and over.
According to a survey of 1,000 shoppers:
- 95% admitted that a store’s external appearance influenced their decisions about where to shop
- 52% avoided a store because of a dirty appearance from the outside
- 39% claimed that they wouldn’t enter a store that “doesn’t look like a place I would normally shop.”
How do I get curb appeal?
A checklist can help you start and stay on track with a project, including boosting your curb appeal.
The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at Southern Arkansas University recently developed the Curb Appeal Checklist.
Use the checklist to review the appearance of your business from the outside in:
- Identify items in need of improvement at your location. Enlist a friend in the process to gain even more feedback.
- Prioritize the items. What will have the greatest impact on the attractiveness of the property? Tackle that first. If cost is an issue, skip the item until you save up the funds.
- Phase in improvements. Some desired improvements may require multiple steps. Think through actions needed to improve each item, then implement your plan, step by step.
- Re-evaluate annually or even quarterly. Paint fades, weeds pop up. Be persistent and unwavering in your effort to have a business with stunning curb appeal.
Further Reading