One important aspect of marketing a home for sale is something commonly referred to a home's curb appeal. Curb appeal refers to the emotional attractiveness of a home when it is first seen by a potential home buyer. Curb appeal could be regarded as a sort of sex appeal, but it is much more than that. The curb appeal, or first impression of a home, is one important factor that can actually make or break a sale. Therefore, it is crucial for home sellers to pay attention to the outward appearance of their home, including the landscaping, the yard and the garden in the back yard if a quick and easy sale is the goal.
In a sense, curb appeal can be viewed as a home's "bling", although this might be overstating it a bit. It is not necessarily a collection of bright and shiny things that attract the youthful mind, but is more of an expression of the homeowner's values and personality. A modern and well-appointed home, even with the latest innovation and updates can be less attractive if the front yard and driveway are less than appealing when viewed from the street. A less than modern home, on the other hand can be quite appealing if there is a sense of value and pride in the appearance of the flower beds, the hedges, the garden and its outward appearance: roof, siding, windows and doorways.
When taken as a whole a home's exterior and its surroundings completes the home's curb appeal. Obviously, it is very important to the seller to get it right in order to attract as many potential buyers as possible.
Here are some common-sense ideas to look after when considering how to improve your home's curb appeal.
Lawns: A well-groomed lawn would be free of brown spots and bares spots. Brown spots are a sign of disease or pet urine. Pet fecal matter should not exist anywhere on the lawn, front or back. Lawns should be clutter free. Water hoses, toys, and recreational accessories should be put away. Lawns should also be carefully scrutinized for signs of insect colonies or nests. These should be taken care of by a professional and the lawn should be restored to a healthy condition.
Driveway: Driveways should not have cracks, oil stains, discoloration, or depressions. Depressions are a sign of weakness in the driveway's foundation and should be repaired, not patched. Driveways should be clutter free, as well. Sports equipment should be picked up and put away anytime the home is being shown to prospective buyers.
Gardens: Flower gardens, shrubs, decorative plants and the vegetable garden should be kept clean and groomed. Dead or dying plants should be removed and disposed of. Bare patches of garden should be raked and free of invasive weeds.
Pools and Spas: These can make or break a home sale if they are not well maintained and visibly in good condition. Decks, patios and storage buildings adjacent to a swimming pool should be maintained and orderly in appearance as well. Pools and spas should be algae and stain free, and pumps and filters should be in sound working condition.
Woodwork: Fences, storage sheds, decks, and trellises should not show any signs of rot, insect infestation, or instability. They should appear painted, sturdy, and properly preserved. Trash storage areas should be clean, orderly and odor free without any signs of insects, rodents and other unwelcome nighttime visitors.
Exterior: The home's exterior is likely to be the most significant factor for establishing the most favorable sense of curb appeal. Your home should be well-lighted, and the lighting should be clean, both inside and outside. Sidewalks, steps and landings should be immaculate and well ordered, which is another way of saying clutter free. Potted plants should be fresh, attractive and matched to the home's - and your, character and personality. It goes without mentioning, but the roof, gutters, garage doors, windows and awnings should all be in good condition and freshened with a new coat of paint if necessary. The home's foundation should be inspected for cracks, and these should be repaired and painted.
Finally, there should be no safety issues associated with your home. This means no hostile pets, no hazardous materials, flammables, exposed electrical wires or trip hazards anywhere. These items should be first on your checklist and demand your immediate attention if they are found.
If you step outside your home and position yourself at the curb and look back, what do you see? Ask yourself if your home is as attractive to you now as it was when your first fell in love with it and made the decision to borrow large sums of money so you could live in it. For home buyers these days, this is an important question that has to be answered. Chances are that if you answer in the affirmative, someone much like you will feel the same way. Your home could be sold quicker than you think, so it pays to prepare your home's curb appeal well in advance of the day you place it in the hands of an eager Realtor.