The Importance of Curb Appeal…
This is one of the most important aspects in Selling your home. You must draw that prospective buyer out of their car, unto the sidewalk, and up to the front door. Landscaping, color, walkway, driveway, the neighbors… all give a feel to the home. A potential buyer will look for the home that views pristine from the street to the doorknob on the front door.
There may be a good reason your home is taking longer to sell than average. What is the first thing you notice when you drive up to the home? How does the outside of the home make you feel? Do you want to get out and see it? How does it look compared to the other homes in the neighborhood? These are questions you need to ask yourself when preparing your own home for sale. Can you put on the “potential buyer” glasses and really look at your home.
Well, you can’t change the neighborhood, and you probably didn’t budget for a complete front yard makeover. So what can you do?
***View your home from across the street or as far away as you can. Take a look from at least 3 angles such as the right side, front and center and left side. Now take a really good look at it.
#1. Can you see it? If you can’t see your home, you can’t sell it. Trees and shrubs are great and should be trimmed so that you can still see the house. I usually suggest trimming trees up to the rain gutter line or the top of the highest window. Shrubs should follow a same line as the bottom of a window trim. If a lot of trimming needs to be done, do it several weeks before you put the home on the market so that the plants have a chance to recover.
#2. How is the paint? Is it a neutral color? Does it flow with the rest of the homes on the street? Painting your house bright Blue will attract attention for sure, but not when you are selling. Remember, with potential buyers… neutral is still key. Start with the trim if you can’t paint the whole house. Focus especially around the front door and front porch. It can also be as simple as painting the front door a different color. That can be a quick and easy fix.
#3. How is the driveway? Does it have cracks, oil stains, garbage cans? Your driveway is the largest hard scape area near the home, the material and look of the driveway and garage have a huge impact on curb appeal. Clean it up and clear everything off.
#4. How is the landscaping? Make sure that the grass is well watered, edged, and mowed. Flowers, flowers and more flowers. These little pops of color make us happy and cheerful. Add some pots near the garage and plant away. Rebark to also add a fresh feel.
#5. Can prospective buyers find your front door? Is your walkway to the front door defined? Does it lead buyers to the front door or front entry? Make sure people know where your front door is, and then work on drawing people toward the front door. If the front entry area has a patio, create an outdoor sitting area to show another living space.
Curb appeal is really only part of the whole package, which means the small details are as important as the big picture. A manicured front yard means a manicured home in a buyer’s eyes.
Finally, don’t forget to tidy up. Remove the garbage cans, hide the hose, pick up the paper, etc. Curb appeal means a place that looks neat and clean, the kind of place you’d like to live.
Now… how does the inside look? Call a professional home stager today for a consultation on curb appeal or for staging your entire property.
Lori Kim Polk is owner of Premiere Home Staging, a full service Home Staging and Design Corporation and nationally recognized leader within the home staging industry located in Roseville, California. Lori Kim has a warehouse full of unique accessories and quality artwork to better serve their growing list of clients in the Sacramento areas. She has been featured in Staging Standard Magazine, Sacramento Magazine, Sacramento News and Review, KFBK radio and SMUD's Home of the Future. Proudly serving realtors, homeowners and investors in Granite Bay, Rocklin, Lincoln, Sacramento, and surrounding areas with exceptional home staging.
Lori Kim has helped stage and market hundreds of homes in the Sacramento, Roseville, and surrounding areas since 2005. Our stats say it all.....current DOM with our staging is 18 days. Call us today at 916-300-0402 for our premier services. "We are changing this market one home at a time!"
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