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Health & Fitness

8 Tips for Adding Curb Appeal and Value to Your Home

We've all heard the expression, "You only have one chance to make a good first impression."  In real estate, it's true.  So I remind my clients that when a potential buyer pulls up to the front of their house, they've already started forming strong opinions of whether they like it or not. The way your house looks from the street can add thousands to its value and cut the time it takes to sell.  Here are eight ways to help your home turn on the charm:

1) Give it a good wash. Wash the dirt, mildew and general grunge off the outside of your house. Wash your windows inside and out, swipe cobwebs from eaves, and hose down downspouts. Don't forget the outside of garage too.

2) Add a fresh coat of paint. In terms of ROI, this is one of the best was to increase your curb appeal.  Buyers will instantly notice it, and appraisers will value it—so mind your colors closely.  

3) Stay on top of the roof.  The condition of your roof is one of the first things buyers notice and appraisers assess.  Missing, curled, or faded shingles add nothing to the look or value of your house.  You can pay for roof repairs now, or pay for them later in a lower appraisal; appraisers will mark down the value by the cost of the repair.  

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4) Straighten the yard.  A well-manicured lawn, fresh mulch, and pruned shrubs boost the curb appeal of any home.  Replace overgrown bushes with leafy plants and colorful annuals. Surround bushes and trees with dark or reddish-brown bark mulch, which gives a rich feel to the yard.  Put a crisp edge on garden beds and plant a few geraniums in pots.

5) Add a splash of color.  A little color attracts and pleases the eye of would-be buyers. Dig a flowerbed by the mailbox and plant some pansies.  Place a brightly colored bench or Adirondack chair on the front porch.  These colorful touches won’t add to the value of our house: appraisers don’t give you extra points for a blue bench. But beautiful colors enhance curb appeal and help your house to sell faster.

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6) Glam your mailbox.  An upscale mailbox, architectural house numbers or address plaques can make your house stand out.  If you don’t buy new, give your old mailbox a facelift with paint and new house numbers.  These days, your local home improvement center or hardware store has an impressive selection of decorative numbers and architectural address plaques you can use.

7) Add a fence.  A fence with a garden gate to frame the yard is an asset. Not only does it add visual punch to your property, appraisers will give extra value to a fence in good condition. If you already have a fence, make sure it’s clean and in good condition. Replace broken gates and tighten loose latches.

8) Maintenance is a must.  Nothing looks worse from the curb--and sets off subconscious alarms--like hanging gutters, missing bricks from the front steps, or peeling paint. Not only can these deferred maintenance items damage your home, but they can decrease the value of your house.

In my next post, I'll reveal seven inside makeovers I tell my sellers they can do quickly and easily to appeal to today’s buyer--because the inside of a home for sale has to make a good first impression just as quickly as the outside.

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