Curb Appeal

First impressions do make a difference when selling your home. Oftentimes, before making the phone call to schedule an appointment, a homebuyer will drive by your home to determine if they may be further interested. If the house presents a good impression, then you receive the phone call for an appointment. Many homes are eliminated from a potential homebuyer's list because they do not give a good first impression. The work you put into sprucing up the inside will be in vain if the exterior of your home does not draw people in. In the real estate world this is known as "curb appeal", that is, your home should be appealing to potential buyers from their initial curbside or drive-by viewing.

Achieving curb appeal is not very difficult, nor does it have to be very costly. Assuming your roof, gutters, etc? are not in obvious need of repair, most of your efforts will be focused on cosmetics. Step back from your home or better yet, go to the curb and take a long objective look at your home. You may want to take a look from different angles. Compare your home to others on your block. You will be focusing on two main areas; the house itself and the landscaping surrounding your house.

When observing your home, start at the top of the roof and work your way down. Write down areas that need attention. You are striving for a look that makes observers feel that your home is neat, clean and well cared for. The following areas of your exterior deserve special attention:

Roof and chimney - Shingles should be intact with none missing and mortar between the bricks should be secure. Although expensive to replace, a roof or chimney in disrepair often discourages potential homebuyers.

Exterior siding - If your siding needs to be painted, it is well worth the expense and time. Choose a color that is fairly neutral and that coordinates with homes in your immediate vicinity. Power washing dirty siding can make a house look almost new again.

Gutters ? You should repair and clean gutters. Weeds growing from your gutters are a good example of a negative first impression. Nothing says "poor maintenance" like weeds in a gutter.

Windows and Trim - If the paint on the trim or windows is peeling, scrape and paint. Replace any broken glass and finally clean the windows inside and out.

Front Entry Door - If your front door has not been painted in 3-4 years, consider a fresh coat of paint. Depending on the style of your home, a contrasting color from your siding may add visual interest. The front door should welcome buyers into your home. A nice looking wreath in tune with the season gives a warm homey touch.

Shutters - If applicable, repair and paint if needed. Usually, a contrasting color matching the front door or a neutral color works best.

Foundation ? You should repair visible cracks. Basement windows should be repaired if cracked, cleaned and trim painted if necessary. It sometimes helps to paint the exposed foundation on the exterior of your home but you should avoid loud colors.

Porch ? Once again, repair and paint railings, posts and steps. Place a few nice chairs and a table with plants if space permits. Place a welcome mat by the door. Hanging flower baskets add a nice touch but don't forget to water them. An inexpensive idea to dramatically enrich your curb appeal is to add a brass mailbox, a new brass porch light, brass house numbers and a brass kick plate. For less that $80.00 dollars you will transform the look of your home.

Now that the house's exterior is in good shape it is time to concentrate on the landscaping around your home. Your goal is to have the landscaping complement your home, not detract from or compete with it. Homebuyers should not have to look through overgrown shrubs or trees to see your home. Anything overgrown or so large that it blocks windows, doorways or sidewalks should be trimmed back or removed. Any diseased or dying plants should be removed. Aim for a few plants that serve as a focal point, and fill in with other smaller plants. Make beds deep enough to accommodate shrubs when they are fully grown (usually 5-6 feet). Visit a local nursery for ideas. You can get great ideas by simply driving around the neighborhood as well. After trimming and planting, cover the soil with a thick 3-4 inch layer of mulch. Keep the beds free from weeds, and depending on your location and season, add a few annuals for color interspersed with the bushes. Keep everything trimmed and neat so the focus is on your home. Keep your lawn cut, apply fertilizer and weed control if needed.

Remember, your landscaping should enhance your home, not overpower it. Keeping everything trimmed and neat will give your home the "curb appeal" needed to make someone want to take a closer look. Once you get the potential buyer inside?well that's the subject for another article! Stay tuned.

Bruce Andrews has been in the real estate business for over 20 years. He has experience in real estate investing as well as practicing real estate as a broker for several years. He is currently President of Fifty States Realty. http://www.fiftystatesfsbo.com

---

Selling Your Home ? What Can Go Wrong With Title and Lenders

If you're selling your home, there are going to be... Read More

OPM - The Art of Leveraging

Equity lender, hard money lender, private investor or what ever... Read More

Foreclosure Home Deals

Did you know that you can save tens of thousands... Read More

Real Estate Investment Requires A Team

I had a hard time at first with real estate... Read More

Grab Quick Profits As Real Estate Prices Soar

Real estate values rise and fall in cycles. Currently home... Read More

How to Eliminate Risk in Real Estate Investment

Avoid 12 Common Mistakes Made by Novice Investors and Ensure... Read More

Golf and Waterfront Living: Live, Play, Relax

With today's planned lifestyle communities, golf and boating enthusiasts have... Read More

Why it is Important to Hire Just One Real Estate Agent to Buy a Home

In our fast paced and frantic real estate market, buying... Read More

Investment Property Part 2 of 2: What You Need to Know Before You Buy

Welcome to the second portion of a two-part series on... Read More

The Most Sensible Investment Decision Youll Ever Make

So much advice is bandied about on the internet and... Read More

Young Couple Buys Ranch with Government Money

Kirk and Tina Sczepanik had a dream. They wanted a... Read More

Purchasing Property With No Money Down: My Personal Experience

Have you ever seen those infomercials about buying houses with... Read More

Understanding Real Estate Terminology

Purchasing a home can be a complicated and confusing process,... Read More

Farm Expired Listings For Big Commissions

Many real estate agents begin and sometimes sadly end their... Read More

How to Attract Clients in Residential Real Estate

Doesn't it seem like everyone you know has a friend,... Read More

Tenants in Common (TIC)

Tenants in Common is a way of sharing ownership of... Read More

Lock In Big Profits By Offering Rent To Own Deals

Why would anyone accept a lease option, rent to own... Read More

Investing In Commercial Property

Why commercial property?Compared to residential property investments, commercial property offers... Read More

Buying Property in Portugal

Portugal has long been a popular choice for people, particularly... Read More

Donald Trump on Real Estate

I love what Trump says about the business of real... Read More

Closing Costs When Buying A Home

Closing costs are often the last thing a person thinks... Read More

The Benefits of A Real Estate Agent 101

Buying and selling property is not as easy as you... Read More

Why Should Sellers Be Absent During Showings?

If only there were a way to sell your home... Read More

10 ?No Money Down? Ways to Buy Real Estate

Turn the Television on any Sunday morning and you'll find... Read More

How Can I Stop Foreclosure on My House?

We understand the being in foreclosure is a scary thing.... Read More

How to Get Financing after Filing Bankruptcy

If you're thinking about buying a home but have declared... Read More

Finding Southern California Real Estate Foreclosure Property

Southern california real estate foreclosure:If you want to find southern... Read More

Industrial Income Property Financing: Part 3 of 3

Financial ConcernsOf the three types of income property, industrial property... Read More

The Perils of the Property Ladder: Has Anyone Noticed the Silence?

There was a time when every conversation was focussed on... Read More

5 Hot Tips for Successful Real Estate Investment

The last downturn of the global stock market saw millions... Read More

Home Warranties: Are They Too Good To Be True?

What is a 'Home Warranty?'A home warranty is like an... Read More

I Already Have an MLS Listing, Why Do I Need an Internet Ad?

In today's real estate market, astute buyers are also looking... Read More

Reprint Rights and How To Use Them To Generate A Steady Income

I can't emphasize enough how important it is to have... Read More