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Article: Improving
Curb Appeal
by Bob Lipply
What if your
real estate agent could give you a fool-proof way to sell your home
quickly and get top dollar for it too? Well, nothing is more important
in attracting potential buyers to your home than curb appeal. What
is curb appeal? Well simply put, it’s that quality that makes
a person driving by your house stop and say “Wow!” First
impressions do count! If people don’t like the outside they
won’t go inside.
The view from the street
and the picture posted on the internet are the first impressions
people will have of your home. There may be many homes for sale
in your neighborhood or town and you want people to see yours first.
So here are some tips
for you to maximize your curb appeal:
· Do some homework.
Take a walk or drive around your neighborhood. Bring a notebook
and or a digital camera. Look at the houses. What catches your eye?
Which homes stand out? Write down what you like or snap a picture.
Then go home and take a long, hard look at your own house. Try to
see it with new eyes. Snap a picture and compare it with the others.
Make a list of things you would need to do to get your home to the
level of the best homes. Set aside some time and a budget for sprucing
up your home’s exterior. Either do it yourself or hire some
professionals. It will be money well spent.
· Fix or replace
whatever’s broken, outdated or ugly. If you hate something,
chances are so will someone else. Do you need to paint? Sometimes
all you need is a fresh, new color on the front door or shutters
to really make your house stand out. Do you need to rent a power
washer? Do you need a new roof or new door? How old is the landscaping?
If it’s more than 15 yrs old, it‘s probably overgrown.
Boring, overgrown and neglected landscapes do nothing for curb appeal.
· Have a major
family clean up day. You want your house to sparkle! Wash the windows,
polish the doorknobs, sweep the porch, clear the gutters, clean
the driveway, mow the lawn, pull the weeds, pick up fallen branches
and leaves, trim the shrubs, deadhead the flowers, mulch the beds,
edge the flower beds, edge the lawn.
· Now for the
fun part, add some decorative touches. The easiest way to decorate
the front of your house is with annual flowers. Make sure you have
healthy looking flowers around your property. Pick a color scheme
that goes with your property. You can borrow ideas from your neighbors,
a magazine, or your local nursery or home center. Figure out if
you have mostly sun or shade and choose the right flowers for your
site. You can plant some in the ground and others in containers.
Put some pots on your steps and porch or some large planters by
the front door. Plant a window box. Containers are easy to change
with the seasons. Just remember to water and fertilize. Other things
you can do are to add shutters, porch chair cushions, seasonal decorations,
attractive house numbers, a new mailbox, a bird bath, a beautiful
wreath, or anything that will make your home look inviting and attractive.
· Don’t
forget lighting. Many people can’t check out houses till after
dark. Make sure your house stands out at night. Choose an attractive
porch light and keep it on. Keep the interior lights on as well.
You want your home to be warm and inviting. Try landscape lights,
but even better, a spotlight or two aimed at your beautiful landscape
or the lovely front door.
Good luck and have fun
improving your home's curb appeal. If you follow the important tips
above, your home will be a hit with the potential buyers. Most importantly,
your home will sell quickly and at the highest market value.
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Bob Lipply is
a top Real Estate Broker Associate in the Tampa Bay Florida area.
He and his team have been helping families get top dollar for their
homes with great success. Visit his website at http://www.lipplyrealestate.com
for many other valuable selling tips.
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