Commanding Curb Appeal

Have you noticed that spring seems to be the time that onslaughts of homes come on the market?  For sale signs are rivaling political signs as yard art right now.  If you are a voyeur and just love to get a glimpse into that historic Victorian or modern ranch or a serious buyer your weekend calendar could soon be crammed full of open house after open house.  I for one tend to judge a book by its cover and lean towards the idea that if the curb appeal is non-existent the rest of the home is probably equally as mundane.  Curb appeal goes far beyond the simple attributes of a home; it is a theme that is woven throughout the property and combines into one cohesive visual presentation.  If the landscape is riddled with dog poop and overgrown shrubs that are scraping the siding of the home, one might assume that the inside of the property is in equal disarray and not even bother to view those cathedral ceilings or remodeled kitchen.

If you want to get people excited about the prospect of your home becoming their home, get a little curb appeal.  In fact, even if a home is not for sale putting your best foot forward and creating a welcoming landscape will go a long way with the neighbors and cast you in a warm glow as someone who has real style. 

Many sellers might not think that potential buyers are looking at their home, but the Internet has changed the way in which homes are sold.  Bryan Hedges, President  & Broker for Realty Executives in Lawrence, explains the new trend, “Currently 80% of home buyers start their home search online.  They narrow their search down by viewing the photos and virtual tours of homes in their price range.  So, curb appeal is more important than ever, particularly on the day the photos are taken.  Buyers use these first impressions to eliminate homes from their list.  If a home has bad curb appeal, it will not photograph well and thus fail to make the list of homes that buyer’s visit.”

This is the time to strike while the iron is hot; spring signifies rebirth, renewal and apparently a new haven to call home.  Hedges expands on this, “I have a running bar graph by month for the last 5+ years of the Lawrence real estate market and the number of real estate contracts accepted peak every year in April.  May and June are the other two best months as well.  I believe that better weather, greener lawns, blooming flowers, leafing trees, more positive spring attitudes, daylight savings time, and the anticipation of kids getting out of school for the summer all contribute to these spring months being the most popular time to make and offer for a home.”

Not only will alluring curb appeal leave a buyer wanting more but a stellar yard can also greatly improve your chances of paying off in dollars and cents.  Hedges explains, “If a home doesn’t have great landscaping and curb appeal, buyers usually discount the value of the home in their minds more than it would actually cost to make those improvements.  Thus, homes without curb appeal often get no offers or low offers.  A seller will generally get their money back and then some by investing in landscaping to enhance the curb appeal of their home.”

Okay, so what should you do to improve how others view your home?  First walk across the street and look at the property, ask your self the following questions:

• What is the first impression?
• What are the best features of the home and how can I enhance them?
• What are the worst features of the home and how can I minimize or improve them?

With a pen and paper in hand make a list as you circle the home of ways to put your best foot forward.  Hedges has the following suggestions to aid in improving your lot.

• A clean, nicely trimmed lawn, a green lawn shows up very well in photos.
• Neatly trimmed trees and bushes.
• Fresh mulch around flower beds and trees.
• Colorful, well-thought out flowers along the front and other walkways.
• Trim trees and bushes so they are not touching the home’s siding or windows.
• Make sure no dirt or mulch touches the siding making an easily accessible entry for termites.
• Make sure the lawn is graded away from the home, so it is clear that water drains naturally away from the foundation.
• Sod or reseed bare spots in the lawn.
• Plant new colorful flora that is durable and easy to maintain.
• Don’t plant too much that a buyer might feel as if they couldn’t manage the garden.
• Colorado River rock can be a nice touch in spots to add color in beds and along walkways.
• Clear out debris and clutter, stow away garbage cans, garden tools and kid’s toys.
• Reclaim areas that have given way to wild vegetation.
• Weed!
• Polish and shine windows and door knobs, try pressure washing the porch, decks and patios.
• Spruce up the furniture on the front porch and add some colorful, potted annuals.
• Scoop poop!

You might also perform this curb appeal exercise at dusk as well.  A quick way to improve the outdoor appearance of a home is through lighting.  With the proper lighting you can highlight great landscaping elements, architectural interests and brighten a walkway. 

Hedges recalls some prior home sales that hinged on curb appeal, he states, “We’ve had many contract negotiations on homes worth several hundred thousand dollars come down to landscaping and yard art.  Seller’s need to be very clear on their disclosures if they intend on taking a sentimental trees or digging up heirloom flora, the same goes for yard art.  We sold one home a few years ago in which the seller had used all of his old bowling balls and shop tools to make yard art.  The buyers assumed that he was taking that all with him.  The seller ‘kindly’ left it all at the home for the buyer to ‘enjoy’.”

While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, extending a little TLC to your homes curb appeal can resonate with onlookers universally and possibly make you the envy of the neighborhood all while padding your pocket book.