Property value can increase and decrease due to several factors. For example, adding home upgrades, such as improving the kitchen or lawn can increase its market price. However, having a well-maintained neighborhood can not only drive up all property values, but increase community appeal. 

Appeal and value are strongly interconnected. More appealing neighborhoods have higher demands, which increase home prices. Therefore, if a community has decreased appeal, so will the value of its properties. 

Fortunately, there are several ways to improve your neighborhood and attract possible buyers. In the article below, we will discuss the many factors that can enhance community appeal and property values. 

Curb Appeal and First Impressions 

Guaranteeing that potential homebuyers have a good first impression of your neighborhood is key. If your community looks unattractive or poorly maintained, people will be discouraged from investing in any properties.  

Aesthetically pleasing homes lead to a higher curb appeal and, luckily, there are several measures your community can implement to increase appeal: 

Exterior Maintenance 

Properly maintaining your neighborhood is not only essential in attracting more residents, but it creates a welcoming and comfortable environment for everyone in the community. Often, maintenance committees are established to help ensure neighborhood attractiveness. 

Because communities have to handle several maintenance tasks, such as exterior repair and snow removal, it can be helpful to create a schedule. This will help organize and coordinate all of the activities needed to maintain the assets. 

Most importantly, conducting an inspection on your community’s areas can point out the regions that require maintenance. If there are any signs of wear or a history of malfunction in a certain location, it is necessary to implement measures to repair it. 

Landscaping 

Having a beautiful landscape also helps your community create a positive first impression. Features such as patio, gardens, and walkways, makes outdoor spaces more enjoyable and appealing to possible homebuyers. 

Aside from enhancing a neighborhood’s aesthetic, landscaping can have many environmental benefits. Trees and brushes provide shade, reducing heat islands and improving air quality. Additionally, they provide privacy, an attractive feature to buyers. 

Creating a rooftop or community garden, flowery fences, and adding shrubs, plants, and grass are all ways you can improve your neighborhood’s landscape. 

Driveway and Parking Areas 

Ensuring that pavements are well-maintained, clean, and free of cracks and stains contribute to the community’s appearance and avoid potential safety hazards. Having a uniform driveway material (such as concrete or asphalt) can also contribute to a cohesive look. 

If your community has shared parking spaces, regular maintenance is crucial. This involves addressing any surface damage, repainting parking lines and conducting regular sweeping to remove any trash. 

To ensure that parking spaces are being used effectively, it is important to set guidelines and rules. Establish when residents and guests can park, rules for oversized or commercial vehicles, and restrictions to overnight parking. 

Having a functional, organized, clean, and attractive driveway and parking space contributes to the harmony of a community and is appealing for buyers. 

Trash and recycling 

When looking for a neighborhood to live in, you want to ensure that it is a clean and beautiful environment. If you see trash or notice that a community is unclean, you will probably be steered away from purchasing a property there. 

This is why effectively managing trash and recycling is essential in maintaining curb appeal. It is necessary to establish a consistent and regular pickup time for collecting trash and recycled items. Additionally, having uniform bins and a designated location to keep them prevents mismatched and unattractive containers. 

Because the world is becoming more concerned with climate change and conservation, sustainability is an important factor when considering what community to live in. In fact, studies show that nearly 70% of buyers would like their property to be more eco-friendly. Including recycling bins and implementing measures that reduce waste helps promote environmentally-friendly practices in your community.

Conducting regular maintenance and investing in a beautiful landscape helps strengthen the value and appeal of your community. Moreover, ensuring organized parking spaces and driveways and implementing good trash and recycling practices creates a harmonious environment where everyone wants to live in. 

Community Amenities

Providing a wide range of amenities can attract various residents with different needs. They can make the neighborhood more convenient and contribute to the resident’s overall lifestyle. Here are some of the many benefits amenities provide:

• Lifestyle and convenience: Providing access to fitness centers, swimming pools, and hikes, can draw buyers that are looking to stay active. These amenities make it convenient for residents to maintain a healthy lifestyle without having to travel far. Playgrounds and parks also attract people who want to relax, exercise, and enjoy family activities. 
• Sense of Community: Many buyers are looking for ways to engage with their community and build relationships with residents. Amenities that facilitate social interaction such as clubhouses, BBQ pits, and community gardens, are appealing to these buyers.
• Caters to specific demographics: One of the main advantages of having a variety of amenities is that you can attract people from different age groups and with different desires. Golf courses, wellness centers, libraries are one the many areas that can appeal to older adults. On the other side, playgrounds, indoor playrooms, sport courts, are attractive to buyers with younger kids. 
• Builds a positive image: Having well-designed common areas with stylish architecture can add a unique identity to your community and impress possible buyers. Additionally, having exclusive amenities like wine cellars or exclusive beach access, can interest people who are looking for a more luxurious lifestyle. 
• Increases Property Value: Offering many amenities can provide several lifestyle benefits that any homeowner would love to have. The appeal that these facilities contain attract buyers and, consequently, increases property value. 

Amenities have significant value in a community. Therefore, given the importance of these areas, it is vital to properly manage them. Softwares with amenity reservation systems allows residents to book amenities online and makes it easier for board members to approve their reservation. 

Neigbrs by Vintuem offers several tools to organize amenities, upload images, manage reservations, insert notices, and include personalized rules for each area. 

Property Maintenance Standards

Everyone wants to buy a property that is well-kept and aesthetically pleasing. Conducting regular maintenance helps ensure that property features such as the roof, exterior paint, and plumbing, are in pristine conditions. 

While it is important for houses in sale to be in good condition, having consistent maintenance across all properties contributes to a cohesive and aesthetically pleasing community. A neighborhood with beautiful and maintained homes fosters a sense of pride among residents and improves the community’s environment. 

Since all buyers are looking for a good life-quality, ensuring that all aspects of a property functions as intended is crucial. Constant upkeep on areas such as plumbers, electrical systems, and HVAC prevents safety issues, increases the property’s longevity, and increases the likelihood of attracting tenants. 

Most communities have rules and standards regarding property maintenance. Regular upkeep not only helps certify compliance with these rules, but it also contributes to the neighborhood’s reputation. When properties are in good condition, the community is seen as a safe, desirable, and well-cared-for environment, attracting buyers and investors. 

Safety and Security 

One of the most important aspects of a community is security. If potential buyers feel unsafe when visiting a community, their chances of buying a property are extremely low. This especially true for buyers with family, safety is a non-negotiable factor. 

In fact, property owners have a legal responsibility to maintain a safe environment. If someone is injured due to inadequate security measures, a lawsuit can be filed. Besides, these issues can result in a lot of stress and anxiety, deteriorating the well-being of the community. 

In order to avoid safety problems, there are many protocols, tools, and measures that your community can implement: 

Emergency Preparedness 

Evacuation plans, emergency contact-information, first-aid resources, are all crucial safety-protocols that help respond to emergencies like fires, natural disasters, or medical crises.  

To prepare for any possible safety issues, building an emergency plan can be very useful. Coordinating the role of each board member and conducting regular safety drills can prepare people to act in an emergency situation. 

Smart Security Systems 

Technological resources can help enhance your neighborhood’s safety. Tools such as smart locks, video doorbells, alarms, and monitoring systems allow residents to control their home security when they are away. 

Softwares can also allow residents to report suspicious activity, receive alerts and communicate with property managers. This can improve response time, and keep everyone in the community informed. 

Family & Pet Friendly Environment 

Communities that priorite child safety are more likely to attract and retain families. Fenced yards, secure play areas, and monitored entrances are very appealing to parents. 

For buyers with pets, having secure fencing, behavior guidelines, and pet designated spaces, contributes to a safe environment for both residents and animals. 

Deterring Unwanted Visitors 

To prevent unauthorized individuals from entering the community, your community can restrict access through gates, key cards, and guards to supervise the area. Controlling the entrance of people in a community is especially important for larger neighborhoods. 

To keep track of who is entering the community, guest passes or registration can be implemented to help manage visitors. 

Protecting Residents

Security measures such as gated entrances, surveillance cameras, and neighborhood watch programs can help deter criminal activity and give residents more tranquility. Additionally, implementing proper lighting in common areas and entrances reduce the chance of it being targeted by burglars or thieves. 

The physical safety of residents is also important. Speed bumps, crosswalks, and speed monitors can enhance traffic and pedestrian security. Having safety features like smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and emergency exits also protects residents from harm.  

A reputation for being safe and secure improves the community’s image and property value, making it more desirable for potential buyers or renters. By implementing safety measures and tools, neighborhoods are more likely to maintain a stable and thriving community.   

Wrapping up on Property Values

A well-maintained community has higher property values and more attractability to residents. Several strategies can be implemented in a neighborhood to appeal to tenants and increase a home’s market price. 

Having a well-mainted community and properties is one the many features necessary in a neighborhood. The lifestyle benefits, safety, and aesthetic of a community will all contribute to a high property value, resident attraction and retention. 

If you want to learn more about attracting potential buyers in your community, download our free ebook on condo websites below.