Curb Appeal

We’ve all seen them – homes that lack luster, and have no curb appeal whatsoever; they look like they are part of a ghetto rather than part of a homey neighborhood.  Curb appeal is how your home is viewed from the street. Here are some tips to make your home’s exterior more attractive, have your home stand out in the neighborhood, and add value to your property.  That’s right, the better your home looks from the street, the more your home is valued as a focal point in the neighborhood.  Curb appeal is especially important if you are in the market to sell your home; whether it is to investors, or to attract the right buyer.  Drive by your home slowly in daylight and at night from both directions, to see how appealing your home is from the road, which is the point.

• This process starts online. Pick a day with overcast skies to photograph your home, avoiding too much sunlight (which may be difficult in Arizona where the sun shines most of the time…); this will present your home in the right light avoiding a glow-effect.  According to experts, overcast days are perfect for a photo-shoot.  Take a digital photo and critique the shot as if you were a buyer.
• Avoid litter in your front yard, which means moving the bicycles and toys; have your children take part by putting their toys away inside and outside. This applies to photographing the interior as well, walk around your home still pretending to be a buyer; remove any accumulated clutter before any photographs are taken.  Feng Shui is important as cleanliness; a crisp look photographs well, and presents your home in a more pleasing light.
• Check your roof when you are outside, the roof is important to the overall look if your home; metal roofing is becoming more and more attractive all over the country, with the myriad of colors that are available; this dresses up your home and can last 40-70 years. Traditional asphalt roofing materials have an estimated life expectancy of roughly 12-20 years.
• Your house numbers should also stand out; are yours easy to read, clear and clean, or dirty and dingy? Consider the style of the house: traditional, modern, contemporary, or country then choose a harmonious, or contrasting design to compliment your home.
• Power-washing vinyl siding, as well as surrounding curbing can clean up your property in a very cost-effective way. Power-washers can be rented from your local home-improvement store.
• Plant some color: flowers and trees exude hominess. Literally, spruce up your exterior with flora and fauna: window boxes packed with vines and flowers, front flower beds and lawn ornaments add style and pizazz!
• Consider adding lawn lighting – give your walkway and edge with solar light fixtures; they are affordable and easy to install.
• When getting ready for your open house be sure to open your curtains and shutters – let as much light in as possible; brighter homes sell faster!
• Paint your walls and door trim, to sharpen your interior look, remember to select soothing colors; buyers love a move-in-ready home, if your home is freshly painted that is less work the buyer has to do. Share some of that love on the exterior trim and shutters, especially your front door – be sure to be in compliance with city and town zoning regulations; make sure you are adhering to code.
• Replacing your mailbox with a cute updated design can add charm.

Taking pride in how your home is presented to a potential buyer, putting yourself into their shoes, and obtaining a second opinion on your curb appeal can make all the difference in how quickly your home sells.