How to stop Buyers in their tracks-and get them inside your Home.

Maybe you can’t judge a book by its cover, but jacket art and binding quality can certainly influence your decision about whether to pick one up and page through it.  The same principle applies to homes.

The exterior of a home and the grounds surrounding it create a strong first impression on home buyers-as well as family, friends, and neighbors.  If a property shows shoddy upkeep, faded paint and unattractive landscaping, anyone viewing it from the curb will assume more shabbiness inside.  Buyers won’t even go there unless, of course, they’re looking for a bargain-priced fix-up.  If you’re thinking about selling your home , or you just want to boost its appeal to passersby, follow the suggestions here-then sit back and watch your home gather admirers!

 Take a Survey

Pretend you are shopping for a home with a notebook and a critical attitude.  Ask someone to drive you slowly past your home, approaching it from every street that allows a view of the property–front, sides, and back.  As you cruise by, make notes about your impressions.  Then, get out of the car and walk toward the property as a visitor would, jotting down what you notice along the way.  To get a truly objective opinion about your home’s curb appeal, ask a friend( or your Realtor, Paula Clark) to accompany you on your exterior survey.  With no emotional attachment to the home, other people will see things you might miss–both good and not so good.  See how your home looks after dark, too.  Many busy home buyers use weekday evenings to scout for homes and weekend days to visit them.

The Big Picture

 As you look at your property, try to find a single word or phrase that best describes it. (Buyers will do exactly that.) Is your home inviting,  cozy elegant, well-maintained or interesting?  Or, is it run-down, messy, ordinary, dirty or scary-looking?  The overall impression your home makes is really a composite of various elements location, architecture, landscaping, hardware and upkeep.  By focusing on each element individually, you can create a harmonious and attractive first impression of your home.

Location

Short of picking up and moving your home to another lot, the only thing you can do about its location is emphasize the good points and minimize any bad ones.  For example, if the home sits on a corner lot, you may want to install an attractive hedge, or fence to create more privacy in the exposed side yard.  Tha’s also a useful approach if an eyesore on a neighbor’s lot can be seen from yours.

Architecture

Punch up your home’s style by ensuring its attractive architectural features get noticed.  Use a slightly contrasting paint color that coordinates with the color of the home to emphasize special features such as columns, trim, porches, shutters, doors, and so on.  Unattractive features, such as gutter down-spouts, can be painted the same color as the home so they blend in and disappear.

Landscaping

Plantings on the property should decorate rather than dominate the home.  Remove old shrubs, and trees that have over-grown their location, no longer look healthy or block a view of doors, windows or walkways.  Substitute a self-maintaining ground cover or flowering shrubs and mulch in hard to mow locations.  simplify flowerbeds so they look neat and easy to maintain.  Make sure trees, shrubs, flowerbeds and lawn are kept neatly trimmed and weed-free.

Hardware

Mailboxes, house numbers, screens, light fixtures, railings, door handles and kick-plates can adorn a home or detract from it.  Make sure your home’s hardware reflects up-to-date styles.  for example, old-English-style light fixtures were the rage in the 70’s, but may look dated today on anything but Tudor-style homes.  At the very least, make sure your home’s hardware is properly installed, attractive and in good condition.  Think about adding floodlights or pathway lighting to show off your home after dark. 

Upkeep

The most important impression you want your home to convey is that it is clean and well-maintained.  First, minimize or do away with yard clutter-lawn ornaments, grills, furniture,yard tools or toys.  If you have an asphalt driveway, fill cracks and apply a fresh coat of sesaler.  If your home’s exterior paint is faded or in a dated color, invest in a fresh paint job in a neutral color scheme. One that fits both the home and the neighborhood.  Buy or rent a pressure washer and use it to give your home’s siding, brick and deck a good wash.  Power washers are also great for removing stains and mold from asphalt patios, driveways, and walkways.  A chemical compound can be used if your roof shows mold patches or streaks.  Don’t forget to clean the windows!

The Home Report brought to you from The Paula Clark Monthly Newsletter, and The Gooder Group