Sunday, December 16, 2012

Selling Your House? -------- "Curb Appeal" ???


 

 

 

  Does Your Home have Curb Appeal?
The sale of your home can depend on its ability to attain one elusive quality, a title that every real estate agent strives to create on each of their listings: Curb Appeal. What is Curb Appeal? Curb Appeal is that instant attraction one has to a home at first sight. It’s the sensation a buyer feels when first stepping out of the car and laying eyes on the home (hence the “curb” part). It’s that allure that makes the buyer think, “This is it. That’s the house I want.”

More literally, Curb Appeal is a term real estate agents use to describe anything that prospective buyers can see from the street that might make them want to see more of the house. Curb Appeal can be subjective and it can be unexplainable, but most importantly it can be an effective way to garner interest in your home. But how do you give your home Curb Appeal?

The first step is to properly analyze your home. It’s not realistic to do this on your own - most people are too attached to their homes to recognize the little things that might catch a newcomer’s eye. Take photos of your home from different angles (and of course from the street), and show these to friends, family, and colleagues. Ask people you know who aren’t afraid to give you painful feedback on what they like or don’t like. Take the photos to your local nursery or garden store for professional landscaping advice. A real estate professional can do a walk around of your house and make suggestions based on other houses in the area.

A good place to start is by going over your grounds. A nicely mowed lawn and trimmed trees and bushes quickly add to the overall aesthetic appeal. Make sure there aren’t any tree branches hanging close to the house, and clear away dead leaves and foliage. While it’s nobody’s favorite chore, thorough weeding can go a long way towards improving your home’s exterior appearance. Little things like hanging baskets or planters of flowers on the porch steps will liven your home to those who pass by.

A fresh coat of paint can breathe new life into even an older home. Consider the benefit that repainting could offer if your paint looks faded or shows cracks, pealing, and chipping. It’s much cheaper than an extensive remodel, and it does untold good for the look of your home.

Giving the exterior of your home a quick scrub can do wonders as well. Clean the windows inside and out, wash patio furniture, and re-stain any wood decks. Your nearby hardware store can rent out a pressure washer to spray clean the walks, driveway, and vinyl siding. You want to show the public that your house is well maintained.

Finally, make the little repairs that you’ve been meaning to get to. Fix that broken fencing or burnt-out porch light. It doesn’t do any good to get the buyers on your front porch if the doorbell shorts out when they get there.

These are just a few ideas to get you started in preparation for selling your home.

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