Curb Appeal Tips

Finally, spring has arrived! It's time to freshen up the look of your home. Not only on the inside, but the outside- especially if you want to sell. Curb appeal is that one opportunity to make a first impression.

From my own experience of looking at homes, here are some of the first things I notice when approaching a house.

1. How does the exterior appear? Does it need a new coat of paint? Is the siding cracked or clean? Oftentimes, mildew and cobwebs need to be removed.

2. Is the front door in need of a fresh coat of paint? New shiny hardware can do wonders! Are there any cracked windows that need replacing?

3. Is the lawn freshly manicured? Leaves, branches, sticks and weeds should be removed from the lawn, corners of the house, underneath patio furniture and window wells.

4. Are the windows and screens clean?

5. Are the rain gutters clean and installed properly?

6. Flowers will add wonders to a home's curb appeal.

7. Finally, look at the landscaping. Is your home hiding behind it? It may be time to pull out those overgrown shrubs and trees.

Here are some related articles. I like this first one on trulia.com. It has great before and after pictures that show how even a dud of a home can become a dream- with a little vision!

http://www.trulia.com/blog/margaret_oscilia/2009/04/top_ten_curb_appeal_tips

http://homebuying.about.com/cs/sellerarticles/a/curb_appeal.htm