by Samara Vega

Created on: April 22, 2010

Although we strive to teach our children not to judge a book by its cover, one cannot help but judge a house by its curb appeal. The scary house down the block that we all thought was haunted as children, may in fact contain a lovely palette of pastel hues and hand carved balustrades. To the average person, however, it's the neighborhood eyesore and fodder for childhood nightmares. If you are planning on selling your house anytime soon, you need to take into consideration how your house's curb appeal (or lack thereof) will affect your chances of getting decent offers from prospective buyers.

The days of driving around random neighborhoods and picking up For Sale flyers have mostly come and gone. 80% of people looking into a new home conduct their initial search online. If your house's facade isn't up to snuff with that first jpeg, then chances are your house will be completely ignored. The inside could be gorgeous with wood floors, a media room, and a gourmet kitchen; but if the outside is ugly or bland, the buyer won't even hear about those other features.

Aside from being bypassed online, poor curb appeal WILL also negatively impact your property value. On the flip side of that coin, investing a few thousand dollars in landscaping and paint can increase your property value by 10 - 20%. It's vital that you invest in maintaining your home if you ever want to see a return on it.

Another thing to consider is that we currently live in a buyer's market. As a homeowner trying to sell, you are at the mercy of the buy and the market. Take a look in your neighborhood. There are undoubtedly several homes, comparable in size and style to your own, for sale. Curb appeal allows you to stand out from these. If you live in an area dominated by ranch-style houses, and all you have to offer is green grass in your lawn, then I guarantee the guy down the block with the window boxes and porch swing is going to sell before you do.

In summation, it doesn't matter how spacious your bedrooms are, how charismatic your realtor is, or how motivated your are to sell if you're not willing to put in a little time and money to increase your curb appeal. All it takes is a coat of paint, some hearty shrubs, and a few decorative elements to really make your home shine.

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