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How to Give Your House Curb Appeal
Getting buyers through the front door is often the first hurdle in selling your home. If potential buyers don’t like what
they see outside, they may never walk inside. How your house looks from the outside can often mean the difference
between a house sitting for months or selling in a few weeks. According to Scott Griffith, president of ERA Griffith
Realty in Brighton, MI, “With more homes competing for your eye, the home with curb appeal has the advantage.”
And with an increasing number of homebuyers using the Internet to shop for a new home, a good first impression -
the view of your house from the street – is key. According to 2001 figures from the National Association of
REALTORS®, over 40% of all homebuyers use the Internet to shop for a new home. “People shopping on the
Internet give it one look. If they don’t like what they see, that’s it,” says Dan Lee, vice president of First Weber Group
Inc. in Madison, Wisconsin.
Here are a few tips to improve the curb appeal of your home:
• Examine the big picture – Recognize that people are not going to look at your house the same way you
will. After you’ve lived with fading trim or a shutter that hangs crooked for a year or two, you may not even
see it anymore. Ask your REALTOR® or close friend to look at the front of your house with a fresh set of
eyes. Ask if they would be interested in the home if they didn’t know you? If not, what are their turn-offs?
• Do the obvious – Keep the lawn mowed and gutters clear. Trim brushes, get rid of any dead branches and
fix anything that’s hanging or broken. Keep working outdoor lights on in the evening.
• Fit into the community – Keep your audience in mind as you show your house. For example, if there are
many kids in the neighborhood, it is okay to have a bike in the yard. Not so if your neighborhood is mostly
retirees
• Use flowers – If you have the room, place two traditional large planters on either side of the front door or
walkway. Fill them with overflowing flowers in the spring or summer and evergreens in the winter. This
creates a focal point for homebuyers, forcing them to focus on one area rather than the whole house at
once.
• Make your home inviting – Consider hanging a colorful flag out front or put a seasonal wreath on the
door. It sends the message to potential homebuyers that they are welcome and “to come on in.”
• Apply pressure – If the exterior needs a brighter look, consider getting it pressure washed. This is a great
way to clean trim or walkways and give them a clean, white look.
• Invest in landscaping – If you have just a little money to spend, consider landscaping. If you have a small
yard, plant it with flowers and greenery. If you don’t have a lot of time or a green thumb, create one or two
informal garden areas in the front yard, such as a birdbath. A quick way to create the look of a manicured
yard is to put some fresh mulch or bedding materials around plants in the yard and use a hoe to make the
bedding edges sharp.
Source: Dratch, Dana. “8 Tricks to Give Your House Curb Appeal.” 1 July 2003.
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/real-estate/curb-appeala1.asp
Source: AARP.org. “Get Moving: Using A Moving Company.” http://www.aarp.org/consumerprotect/Articles/a2002-
10-03-WiseConsumerMovingCompanies.html.
Angie Shull
Seniors Real Estate Specialist
REMAX Property Centre
1134 W. Granada Blvd.
Ormond Beach, FL 32174
386-295-9605
www.seniorsrealestate.com
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