Curb Appeal What's the Big Deal?

I know you've all heard about curb appeal. You know what it is, but do you realize how it can make or break a deal? Several times, I have pulled up to a listing with my buyers in the car only to be told, "Never mind." It's true. And I must say, I have felt the same way. If there is no appeal outside, your gut instinct tells you there is no appeal inside. Adding curb appeal to your home may not increase the price, but it can save you money by helping you sell more quickly. In an article from NAR, "The home has to say buy me” at all times, says HarkerABR®, CRS®, a broker-associate with Keller Williams Realty in Dallas.

If you are planning to sell your home or just want your neighbors to envy you a bit, give your home some curb appeal. Here are a few inexpensive things you can do to add appeal to your home.

The first thing you need to do is check your home for repairs. Is there cracked or peeling paint? Siding missing or has it slipped from its position? Broken bricks, shutters, or railings? There is no point in adding gardens, pathways, arbors, etc. if your house is in need of repairs. Plants and sidewalks won't hide it.

After making repairs make sure any landscaping is trimmed, edged, weeded and refreshed. In other words, make sure shrubs are not growing wild and into the path. Pull weeds, edge and lay some new mulch. Make it look fresh. “If the yard is overgrown and weedy, it’s a turnoff,” says Steve Griggs, president of Land Design Studio Inc. in Blauvelt, N.Y.

If you have bare spots or no landscaping, time to start planting. Exteriors by Better Homes and Gardens suggests container plantings. These are merely plants in containers such as: flower boxes, ceramic or tera cotta pots, metal containers, or hanging baskets. According to HGTV, a seller can get 100% return on their investment in landscaping.

Exteriors by Better Homes and Gardens also suggests replacing hardware and lighting fixtures or add lighting to pathways.

A great way to get ideas is to drive through neighborhoods and check out the homes that appeal to you. I'm willing to bet most will be in good repair and beautifully landscaped with lots of flowers and shrubs and lots of color.

If any of you would like to show some transformations you've made, please email them to me and I will post them and show them off for you.