Curb Appeal

There was a great article on ColdwellBanker.com recently about increasing your home’s curb appeal, which can apply to all price points.

One home, located in St. Petersburg, Fla., was charming on the inside, with three bedrooms, three baths and a two-car garage. However, there was nothing charming about the outside. The aluminum and frosted glass windows that enclosed the porch were not appealing to the eyes of a buyer, which caused the house to sit on the market for seven months.

Fortunately, the seller’s agent persuaded the owners to remove the windows and open the porch, which made all the difference. The home was sold for $475,000, which was just below the asking price, even before the job was completed. This shows the power of “curb appeal,” which is the desirability of a home from the outside view.

“First impressions are crucial,” says Sharon Simms, a broker with ALVA International, who represented the Florida sellers. Simms also explains that a homeowner can become so used to their home that they often forget about little things that are undesirable to a buyer, such as a front door that sticks or cobwebs hanging over the entry.

In order to put yourself in the buyer’s position, you must see things their way. For example, take pictures of a house from across the street, and from these pictures you will be able to spot specific little things, like trashcans in front of the garage, or brown spots on the lawn; these are all little things that contribute to the home’s appearance and really do make a difference.

Another very important aspect of a home is its landscaping. Landscaping is what frames the house and “funnels” the eye to the front door. Barb Schwartz, president of StagedHomes.com and the author of several books on staging, recommends cutting overgrown shrubs, removing branches from trees that might block the house, as well as removing stains from the driveway and walkway. Other things, such as repairing peeling paint, moving trash cans out of view, raking leaves and putting away toys or gardening tools are also important aspects to keep in mind when perfecting your home’s landscape.

An additional idea is to replace old flowerbeds along the walkway of the house or get the mulch replaced; the darker the mulch is, the greener the grass will look. Lighting is another important feature, as a home always looks more inviting when it is lit up at night.

Anything that is a part of the house that is old or used that can be replaced, should be. This includes doorbells, doorknobs, locks and house numbers. No detail is unimportant when it comes to presenting your home to buyers. Even repainting the front door or mailbox can make all the difference.

Finally, once you’ve improved the exterior of your home, don’t forget to make sure your agent broadcasts it with all its new photos online. As much exposure as possible is key. Good luck!

By Georgia Stergakos
Read the full post on Coldwell Banker’s site.