LAMON Assoc.

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Enhancing Your Home's "Curb Appeal"

     No matter how delightful your home is on the inside, the first impression prospective buyers form is based on what your home looks like from the outside. The attractiveness of a home based what it looks like to folks who are driving by is called "curb appeal" by real estate agents.
     The right landscaping can really enhance the curb appeal of a home. According to the American Nursery and Landscape Association, homes with well-kept yards sell quickly. If you are planning to sell your home within a year, now is a great time to spruce up that front yard.
     Start with the lawn. Eliminate weeds, patch bare spots, fertilize and water. Next take a good look at the shrubbery. Are your prized yews really to big for the house? Owners of older homes often are reluctant to cut back foundation shrubs that have been in place for years. But bushes that have grown to cover windows should be pruned to let sun and light into the home.
     Perhaps there aren't enough Plants in front. It's easy to fill in bare spots with small shrubs and colorful, fast growing annuals, such as impatiens and petunias. A few well-placed pots by the front door can be very inviting.
     But don't overdo it. Today's buyers want low maintenance. Your goal should be a beautifully maintained yard that looks easy to care for.
     If you are thinking about selling within the year, please give me a call. (Jean Erickson 856-829-8090 or mailto:jean@housejeanie.com) We can begin working now on a comprehensive marketing program for your property.

The 'Basics'

• Clean and spotless are still musts for everything from floors to windows. Remember to clean the oven and other major appliances. How about skylights? They should be crystal-clear.
  
• No offensive odors. They're the first thing buyers notice, and often a permanent turnoff.  Pet odors are the biggest turn off.
  
• Reduce clutter. Put away or pack small kitchen appliances and other items that might be sitting on countertops or tables throughout the house.
  
• Don't forget the outside. Clean drain gutters if necessary, because buyers nearly always comment if gutters are full of leaves. It makes them question other maintenance issues. Store or organize items that might make the yard look cluttered.

If Your Home is Vacant

• When showing vacant homes, it's not unusual to be greeted at the door by a blast of stale or mildew-laden air. I can tell you first hand that as soon as buyers smell mildew, they are out the door.
  
  And have you ever noticed that during cold months the interior of a house without heat always feels colder than it is outside? Leaving the heat or air conditioning running while a home is on the market reduces odors, and makes it much more inviting to buyers overall.
  
• Keep the lawn and landscaping tidy, even if you have to hire someone to do it.

Try to evaluate the house as if you are seeing it for the first time. If you were a buyer, what would you think about it? What changes would make immediate improvements?

Here are a few tips.

• Pack away most of your family photos. You want buyers to imagine their possessions in the home.
  
• Pack up the bulk of large, personal collections, so that buyers don't get so interested in looking at them that they forget to look at the house.
  
• Remove excess furniture to make rooms more spacious. Clean and organize the closets. If you must, store boxes in an out of the way location, but renting a temporary storage unit instead helps you de-clutter every part of the house.
  
• Remove area rugs if they expose nice hardwood floors.
  
• Bring in plants--real plants, not plastic versions.
  
• How about fresh paint. Are walls in the house dingy, or the colors dated?
  
• If you're living in the house, it's easier to create a mood for buyers. Bake bread during showings, or place a fresh loaf in a basket on the counter. Classical music playing softly in the background is nice, but choose something that enhances the mood you are trying to create.
  
• Don't forget about curb appeal. I mentioned keeping the lawn nicely trimmed, but how about adding other elements to grab a buyer's attention before they walk in the door? The door itself can be a buyer-winner if it's adorned nicely.

Every house is different, but taking the time to prepare the house may put extra dollars in your pocket, and in less than normal time. Plus, a great first impression is often enough to make a buyer more lenient about minor repairs that may be required. You want them to fall in love with the house as soon as they step inside.

1. Keep the lawn neatly cut. Place trash containers and other similar items out of sight.
2. Make sure trees and shrubs do not obscure views, or keep light from streaming through windows.
3. Faded or chipped exterior paint is an immediate buyer turnoff. New paint is not a quick-fix, but is a great way to add appeal and increase market value.
4. Make your front entrance clean and attractive. Windows should sparkle, inside and out.
5. Clean the skylights.
6. Remove debris from gutters. Point downspouts away from the foundation.
7. Inspect the closets (buyers will). Remove items to make closets appear more spacious.
8. Make bathrooms spotless.
9. Clean the kitchen thoroughly, leaving few items on countertops. Don't forget to clean appliances.
10. Paint interior rooms if necessary.
11. Clean the carpets. Wax wood or vinyl floors.
12. Make sure doorknobs and cabinet pulls are in working order.
13. Repair leaky faucets. Make sure stools flush properly.
14. Once the property is in shape, invest a little time each day to keep it fresh and clean.

Tips:

1. Many buyers won't enter a house that appears unkempt on the outside. Agents will encourage them to keep an appointment out of courtesy, but if you're marketing the home yourself, buyers might simply drive on by.
2. Odors are the first thing buyers notice when they walk into a home. Tobacco, mildew, pet, and other odors should be eliminated completely before you list the property.