When a home becomes a property for sale, the owner must take an objective look around the property. Curb appeal must be addressed before the house is listed. Failure to do so will affect the number of showings and the opportunity of a quick and profitable sale.
Furthermore, it is usually a mistake to assume that the potential of a house justifies a high sale price. A good test for the seller is to play the role of a realtor, or of a buyer, who would see the house for the first time. The following guidelines can also be used as a check-list for private house buyers.
The Curb Shows Pride of Ownership
Often neglected is the street number which is what a first-time visitor will look for. Then, what has become invisible to the owner such as an obsolete television antenna on the roof, or Christmas lights in July, will be eyesores to visitors.
Leaving garden debris or other rubble at the curb is a lack of consideration anytime, but especially when a house is for sale. And, unless it is collection day, trash cans should (always) be out of sight.
Repainting a gate or taking care of squeaks is easier than repairing major cracks in retaining walls and pathways, but the visitor and the realtor will notice both.
Not to be neglected is the driveway, which should be cleared of what does not belong there. Because an unobstructed view of the house is important, as is space available, no vehicle should be in the driveway at the time of a showing.
The Landscaping is an Asset not an Eyesore
A garden should enhance a house and draw the eyes to attractive surroundings. Bushes and hedges should be shaped, and vegetation in front of windows trimmed below the sills. An overgrown garden can look attractive with the easy addition of solar lights under mature trees. It will pleasantly surprise the potential buyer who decides to drive by at night.
Stressed areas can be improved with bark-chips, rocks, or replanted. Keep the lawn fertilized, watered and mowed. Remove dead plants. Water leaks signal problems whereas a bench or a garden ornament please the eyes. Plants left in commercial plastic containers are unattractive and so is a tired seat on the porch.
The Front Door Area is Inviting
Paths or stairs to the front door must be swept and unobstructed. Again, a few garden lights are a welcoming touch for late showings. A negative sign while approaching the front door are shutters, blinds, or window treatment that are not hanging properly.
Garden shoes, untidy garden hoses, or empty containers don’t belong by the front door, but a few colourful attractive pots of seasonal flowers do.
As they wait for the door to open, realtor and buyer have time to notice insect problems (ants, wasps, bee nests, spider webs). If eco-friendly solutions have failed, call a pest exterminator.
A polished door handle, and door knocker will make a good impression. And, the best thing of all is an attractive new doormat as wide as the door.
Curb appeal will not necessarily affect the sale price of a house, but it will affect the number of showings. Still, a realtor's bane is a house for sale with no curb appeal and a seller in denial of its impact.
Marie-Claude Arnott - Marie-Claude Arnott writes about topics that interest her, from experience and with passion.
