Top 5 Items to Improve Curb Appeal
By Elizabeth Dougherty
Last week in HomeSeeker we talked a little
bit about curb appeal. Curb appeal is that
extra something about your home that
makes buyers want to take a peek inside.
Many times, Realtors® often have buyers
drive by properties before taking them in for
a showing. You definitely want your house
to stand out from all the others. Here are
the top 5 things you can do to improve your
home's curb appeal:
1 Put a fresh coat of paint on the
front door
If you can, make it an interesting color that
contrasts with the paint on the outside
of the house. For instance, if your home
is painted blue, a red door might look
perfect. Whatever color you pick, make sure
it's a bold but elegant hue that makes a
statement.
2 Put a kickplate on your front door
A kickplate is a metal plate (usually brass)
that is placed on the bottom portion of your
front door. A new, shiny kickplate can make
your front door (or doors) look updated and
more attractive. You can purchase kickplates
at your local home improvement store.
3 Plant colorful flowers
Freshly planted flowers in complementary
colors are an inexpensive and immediately
noticeable improvement to the outside
of any home. Gardening reflects pride of
ownership and buyers tend to look at homes
they think have been "well cared for" by the
current owners.
4 Spruce up the lawn
Put some turf builder on the lawn and get
rid of the weeds. Invest in an edger or have
a lawn service edge the areas around the
driveway, sidewalk and walkway to the
front door. Delineate planting areas with
decorative rocks or other borders. Mow
the lawn regularly and water as needed or
permitted in your area.
5 Mulch and more mulch
The finishing touch to the front of any home
is putting down fresh mulch. Whether it's
pine needles, cypress or any other kind, they
all give the lawn a finished and manicured
look.
For very little money, you can make your
home one that buyers will notice. When they
like the outside, they will want to see the
inside. More showings mean more offers
and more offers mean you'll sell your home
faster.
Here's a little secret. Investors use the very
same techniques outlined above to "flip"
investment properties quickly. These "tricks
of the trade" produce results, so be prepared
to show and sell your home once you
improve your curb appeal. You'll be surprised
how well these tips work.
Elizabeth Dougherty, a resident of
Auburn, is a former Real Estate Broker
and Mortage Broker. She can be
reached at EADougherty1@aol.com.
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