by Rachelle de Bretagne

Created on: March 31, 2007   Last Updated: April 23, 2007

Adding curb appeal to your home.

First impressions are extremely important in the sale of your home. It is an invitation to a buyer, and giving the wrong impression can cause bias, even before the potential buyer has crossed the threshold of your living space.

Houses need to be presented as a potentially comfortable and appealing investment, and areas that can be improved upon may not be as costly as you thought.

Paintwork

Paintwork that is shabby on the front of a house will be noticed. Windows, walls and even the front door presented in an unkempt fashion can be sufficient to deter a would be purchaser. Before your house is put with an agent, the paintwork should be worked on, because real estate agents, in an effort to sell your home, will take photographs, and a badly presented home will lose credibility if presented in a shoddy fashion. Choosing a color that is warm and welcoming for your front door can all add value to the curb appeal of your home. Here, remember that people have colors that they detest, and using a neutral effect rather than strong colors works well.

Steps, pathways, and structural items.

On gravel driveways, often the gravel gets dispersed, and pathways look neglected. A small investment in gravel and replenishing the surface of a pathway can make it look like new, although it may be worthwhile spraying the pathway with a weedkiller before laying the new gravel.

Remember that broken step ? A broken step or brick out of place will detract the eye of the potential purchaser and at minimal cost, can be fixed.

Gates can be mended to fix that squeak, and garden ornament minimized to allow for personal tastes, as too much clutter in a garden will be off-putting to people viewing.

Garden

Keeping the front garden trim and cared for gives the impression that the people who live within the house care for their home, a good sign to potential purchasers. Trim shrubs, tidy around borders, and plant seasonal flowers to give the garden the cherished look that attracts those who are seeking a home. Nice clean edges on flower borders can be achieved relatively quickly with an edging spade.

Cleanliness

Clean windows and window ledges, doorstep, and presentation of a house will improve curb appeal.

Extras

To add that extra flourish to the outside of your home, colored pots with differing heights of plants can make steps and entrance ways look attractive. Do keep pets where they will not become a nuisance to people arriving at your home.

Your home is an asset. It is the gateway to your future, and by presenting it carefully paying attention to curb appeal, you can tempt those potential purchasers to come further than the front door to inspect your home.

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