Curb Appeal - Creating a Good First Impression

Many people believe: “you never get a second chance to make a good first impression.” In real estate, the outside of your home is the first thing potential buyers see when they come for a visit. It’s also their first opportunity to start forming judgments. Give them a reason, and they will start forming negative opinions about your house before they’ve reached the front door. Remember, the negatives stick out more than the positives do. This is just one example of someone judging a book by its cover.

Here are my top five tips to improving the curb appeal of your home:

1. People! Start Cleaning
Clear away old lawn furniture, toys, and clutter. Things that you think need replacing such as that old deck in the back yard -- probably just needs cleaning. Power washers are great on wood decks and fences, and aluminum siding too. Wash the windows, sweep away cobwebs and get rid of any nests that you have. If you have pets, clean up after them. Stash garbage cans and recycling bins out of sight. Clean your gutters and if you find mold or mildew anywhere, try using the power washer on it, and try cleaning with bleach!

2. Get Some R&R: Replace and Repair
If a windowpane is cracked, simply replace the pane and not the whole window. Repair or replace torn window screens and fix any broken steps or fences. Replace missing shutters, straighten doors that are crooked, and oil anything that squeaks.

3. Paint: Easy and Affordable
Paint the trim white, or a clean neutral color. Put a fresh coat of a nice welcoming red or blue paint on the front door, to set it off from the other houses on your street.

4. Give It Some "Bling"
Put a light bulb in the front porch light and turn it on. Polish any metal fixtures you have, switch out your tired old mailbox for a new one, and replace your old house numbers with something that shines. Replace the old worn out welcome mat with a fresh new one. Remember, people love sparkly new things.

5. Time to Take Up Gardening, But a Lawnmower Will Do
An overgrown garden is a signal to potential buyers that your lot requires too much upkeep. Mow, rake or shovel, depending on the season. Keep paths and drives clean and clear. Remove vegetation from between cracks in the pavement and trim sidewalk and driveway edges for a neat and tidy look. Trim the hedges and add some bright flowers to the garden or window boxes. Prune any wayward branches that are too close to the house and cut back anything that prevents light from coming in through the windows.

So in a nutshell, if it’s dirty, clean it, if it’s broken, fix it, if it’s worn out replace it and if it’s cluttered, get rid of it. And make sure the back garden is just as presentable as the front.