One of my many passions is photography, and I enjoy taking pictures of one of my favorite places on the planet:  beautiful Oldham County , just north of Louisville, Kentucky. 

Last week the subject matter was subdivision entrances.  As I was shooting a photo of a particularly beautiful entrance, a lady walked up to me and asked me if all the hard work she had put into making sure the subdivision entrance looked nice really mattered.

My answer was a resounding, YES! 

When you're selling your home, the first impression doesn't begin at the curb.  It actually begins as the prospective buyers turn into your subdivision.  If the entrance has weeds growing through dead flowers and overgrown bushes, it tells the buyers that the neighborhood is not being maintained.  It communicates that there may be issues with the homeowner's association.  I have had clients actually discount a subdivision altogether because of that negative first impression.

On the other hand, an entrance with beautifully manicured landscaping says, "Welcome!  We care about our neighborhood." 

Oldham County's entrances vary greatly.  Some are quite elaborate, complete with cobblestone walls, intricate iron work and Grecian urns.  Some have exquisitely landscaped islands.  Others are understated but neat and attractive.

A subdivision entrance doesn't have to have 5 foot walls and be maintained by professional landscapers.  It just needs to be neatly trimmed with some fresh mulch and a splash of color to make a positive statement.

If you have an active homeowner's association in your neighborhood, ask the board members if there is enough budget allotted to keeping the entrance manicured and attractive. 

Jacki and Jerry Shafer are "Mega Agents" with The Shafer Team and Keller Williams Realty Louisville East, specializing in residential home sales in eastern Jefferson County in Louisville and surrounding Oldham, Henry, Shelby and Trimble Counties in Kentucky.