First, lets start with what it is. Curb appeal is quite simply the rate of attractiveness your home projects to viewers from the street. Why is this important? As the definition states, it is the ultimate first impression. You may have an immaculate, luxurious interior but without high curb appeal, few will bother to step inside to see it. This is even more important when selling on your own because you don't have a realtor to hype the interior as worth a viewing.
Is it worth the trouble to invest, if you don't have good curb appeal? The payback value on exterior upgrades to your property range from 49% for landscaping improvements to 62% for exterior home improvements, such as painting. Next to the kitchen and bath, these are the highest payback ratios for home improvements and are well worth the initial investment.
In the order of highest payback value, we have provided some tips to help you achieve higher curb appeal for your home:
Exterior Painting
Painting the exterior may appear daunting and not worth the effort, but research shows that it results in the greatest return on time and money for exterior improvements.
As a guideline, when choosing color, a long and low house looks most appealing with colours that emphasize vertical elements such as doors and shutters, while taller more narrow homes should contrast its horizontal elements likes fascias and gutters. Window boxes are a nice touch as well.
If painting is out of the questions, the bare minimum improvements should be to:
Wash the full exterior to clear it from dirt and cobwebs. Renting a high pressure washer is best. Fix any loose, missing, or damaged shutters. Clean, paint, or replace mailbox, doorknobs, and street numbers. Windows
Especially with a freshly painted or washed exterior, dirty windows will stand out like a sore thumb, and will date them past their true age.
Tips for cleaning windows - Do not clean windows while they are in direct sunlight. Your cleaning solution will dry too fast.
Using a 100% cotton cleaning cloth, dip the cloth in cleaning solution and wring out excess before wiping the window to loosen dirt.
Using a squeegee, start each stroke in a dry spot, and squeegee in a pattern from top to bottom or side to side. If you are cleaning the outside and inside of the window, alternate the pattern on each side (i.e. top to bottom on the inside and side to side on the outside). This will make it easier to identify which side any streaks are on.
Keep your squeegee blade dry by wiping it with a cleaning cloth between strokes.
Nicks in the squeegee blade will cause streaks. Replace when needed. If you do not have a squeegee, newspaper will dry freshly washed windows, whereas papertowel or cotton will leave lint behind.
Cool clear water is the choice of solution by most professional window washers. For very dirty windows, add 2 tablespoons of vinegar per gallon of water.
Landscaping
Homeowners should plant colorful flowers along walkway leading to the door, prune existing trees, shrubs and bushes, and add fresh mulch. Clean out dead plants and weeds from flower beds and refresh with colorful plants and annuals.
Taller plants at the corners of your house will help anchor it with the landscape. Shorter plants near your home's entry bring attention to your front door. However, this could have a negative impact if the front door is in need of repair (another reason to rethink the exterior improvements noted previously).
Last but most definitely not least and probably most important, ensure your lawn is trimmed and green. If you have a lawn in need of attention, you may want to consult a landscaper for advice before trying to repair on your own.
Overall Appeal
Some further touches that will go along way to increasing the appeal of your home from curbside are:
Outdoor lighting - Exterior lighting in your garden, walkway or entrance area add a warmth and welcome feeling that will make a viewer want to see more.
Indoor lighting - While your house is on the market, leave lamps on in 1 or 2 front rooms. It brings the home to life and, again, provides the same warmth and welcome feeling as the exterior lighting. Exterior lighting alone will not provide the appearance of a well loved, lived in home, like the combination of exterior and interior lighting can.
Furniture - As long as the chairs are well kept and not cluttered looking within the space, two chairs on a front porch provides a tremendous visual appeal from the street. Buyers view the exterior as an extension of the home and will want to view more.
The best advice for creating great curb appeal, is to take a walk through your favourite neighbourhood. Analyze what works really well and what doesn't. Then determine why and incorporate those items to fit your own exterior. Most of all enjoy the outdoors and don't get too overwhelmed by the work at hand.
© February, 2004 - Xstream Realty Incorporated
Amie Walton is the president and founder of Xstream Realty Incorporated, a Virtual Agent online real estate service. She has retained her ASP designation in Home Staging and is managing both XstreamRealty.com and XstreamStaging.com as complementary businesses for assisting homeowners to sell their homes quickly and profitably.
I don't know why I didn't do it sooner, but... Read More
Although architectural details, wall and floor coverings, modern conveniences and... Read More
All of us have emotional preconceptions and assumptions. They are... Read More
In the old days people generally only bought land and... Read More
Earlier this month, Realtor Magazine announced that they would be... Read More
With so many realtors competing for your business, how do... Read More
If you're thinking about buying a home but have declared... Read More
Yes, it has finally arrived. This is the time of... Read More
Purchasing or selling a home will probably be one of... Read More
1. What happens to the seller's credit rating when they... Read More
Is it your dream to one day own a holiday... Read More
Here below are some of the reasons why buyers may... Read More
Moving from one house to another is always a challenge,... Read More
Location, location, location - known as the 3 most important... Read More
An Irish property investor in Sydney, Australia has created an... Read More
You've found the perfect home, closed escrow and just finished... Read More
Knowing what a Good Deal is ? Is the Key... Read More
If you are making the transition from renter to homeowner,... Read More
There was a time when every conversation was focussed on... Read More
Selling your own home can be a time-consuming and frustrating... Read More
Lower Your TaxesTax incentives for real estate investors can often... Read More
Want to see a trick every real estate investor will... Read More
When it comes to real estate investing, most beginners find... Read More
An effective real estate advertising strategy entails a 'shotgun' approach.... Read More
Getting your real estate website more traffic is easy if... Read More
In many places you can buy a house and a... Read More
As sure as the spring flows at The Fountain of... Read More
Property Investing Secrets:How Buying Real Estate Is Like Planning a... Read More
Human nature being what it is, none of us can... Read More
A Realtor has just talked to you and said, "I... Read More
Home buyers and sellers should think twice before jumping into... Read More
Property investing prices pick up following a cooler winter last... Read More
When I was a young child I had many annoying... Read More
An education of some sort is a prerequisite these days... Read More
Once you have contracted us to sell your property we... Read More
Delaware, and the rest of the original British Colonies, has... Read More
Did you know that it's a proven fact that a... Read More
You've found the perfect home, closed escrow and just finished... Read More
One of the things that distresses us about our industry... Read More
Building a house (or lots of them) seems to be... Read More
When it comes to real estate investing, most beginners find... Read More
Most people get involved in Real Estate investing to make... Read More
If you are thinking of selling your home, there are... Read More
From the mountains to the valley, there are many types... Read More
First, let me state that I'm not an attorney and... Read More
With a job that paid $3.40 an hour, I saved... Read More
When it comes to investing, everybody has certain goals and... Read More
While most investors have got involved in property investing because... Read More
When you are considering purchasing a property; either for investment... Read More
On October 22, 2004, President Bush signed tax legislation that... Read More
A typical real estate commission on a $234,000 home (national... Read More
Boston real estate is a hot topic. Daily newspaper articles... Read More
Real estate Internet marketing is a booming business, along with... Read More
We probably answer this question for someone a couple times... Read More
Most experienced property investors use property managers. Why? Because they... Read More
Even in this hot real estate market, selling your home... Read More
When investing in real estate, it is highly desirable to... Read More
I was a landlord for a decade, and I believe... Read More
You hear it asked on the radio, in the newspapers... Read More
Real estate web design requires you to do things a... Read More
Is it your dream to one day own a holiday... Read More
Most people who set out to buy a home, be... Read More
It's not uncommon for an investor to sell a house... Read More
With so many realtors competing for your business, how do... Read More
Fractional shares ("fractionals") are sometimes confused with other vacation property... Read More
San Diego is home to millions of beautiful apartments, condominiums,... Read More
Real Estate |