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Buyer's are looking at your home sans pants.....got curb appeal?

By
Home Stager

Yep, those buyers are snuggled in the comfort of their own dwelling cruising the Internet right now sans pants looking at your home. They have the convenience to view all those homes without having to hit the road. Potential buyers are checking out your property with intent to make a purchase.

Is your home show ready?

You as the seller need to appeal to one of the most powerful senses, the sense of, “I want it and I want now!” I’m pretty darn sure that’s one of the five senses. Yep, pretty sure!

Is the first welcome photo of the exterior of your property click-able and enticing? Does that photo illustrate the value that lay inside the home? If so congratulations you got them to stay a while and linger for a look around, their interest is peaked and they want more.

 

                                        You’ve got it baby and it is called ‘curb appeal, sweet!

                 Front porch by Redesigned Spaces 

If not, uh-oh your home is off their list then it’s on to the next property, lickity split. You’ve lost them to that well maintained beauty down the street. You know the type, well trimmed lawns, splashes of eye catching color in the garden, fresh coat of paint, no twinkling Christmas lights in the dead of summer, attractive welcoming face err… I mean front entrance.

No matter the price range of your property, the outside appearance of your home is an important step to tempt the home-buyer to see the goodies you’ve got behind your front door. By creating that all important curb appeal you will have those drive by home-buyers screeching their brakes to sneak a peek. Take advantage of the current season to create opportunities for the best first impression for your home.

 

  • Give that front door a fresh coat of paint.
  • Shine up or replace the lighting, kick plate and doorbell.
  • Need color by the door? Add a stylish wreath or basket to the front door.  Maybe a new welcome mat will do the trick. Use decorative planters with greenery or colorful flowers to anchor the front door.
  • Spruce up those outdoor flower beds by  mulching, weeding and for heavens sake if Aunt Martha’s prized hybrid flower  she gave you died…give it a proper funeral!
  • Power wash that moss & gunk off the porch and home.
  • Pick up the kiddies’ toys scattered through the yard.
  • Leave no evidence of your beloved ‘Bandit’ on the lawn, scoop up the poop, pronto!white line

 purple flowers  Boston fern  white flowers

Illustrate the value that lay behind your font door by maintaining the outside and tempt that potential buyer to click through and see what else your home has to offer them. Once you've accomplished that, your home will have showing appointments in no time!

Need more tips? Give your local home stager a call and they will be glad to help your home get those lingering looks!

 

 

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Comments(24)

Cathy Lee
CL Design Services Home Staging - Danville, CA
ASP, IAHSP, RESA Danville, CA

Fabulous post as always and super duper list-love the "scoop up the poop"!

Aug 18, 2009 02:20 PM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

What a great list, Cynthia!  I think I'll reblog it!

Aug 18, 2009 03:17 PM
c m
Colorado Springs, CO

Gresat post, cute title, I'm sure that will grab a few comments! I just did an interview about starting the staging at the front door, with a fresh coat of paint...You are right, if they cannot see past the weeds and such, they will never come inside no matter how great it is!

Aug 18, 2009 03:27 PM
Debi Boucher
Real Estate Showcase Photography - Woodland Park, CO
"Realtor Showcase" - Real Estate Photography/Virtual Tours

Well done post, Cynthia! Love your sense of humor! ;)

Debi

Aug 18, 2009 04:19 PM
Michelle Finnamore
Toronto GTA, Alliston, Newmarket - Vaughan, ON
Preparing your property for sale

Love your title Cynthia,made me read your post.

Excellent advice for the seller to pay attention to. I spend a least a few minutes outside before going in as well as driving around the neighbourhood to see who else has good mouth of Chi in the neighbourhood.

Then when i mention to them about paying attention to the outside I casually mention the lovely house down the street with the great curb appeal. They immediately go into great detail about how much they admire that particular house. All of a sudden the light goes on in their head and they understand what I am talking about. It makes a difference, makes the house memorable and creates a positive response by those who see it.

Aug 19, 2009 12:28 AM
C. Bartch
Newark, OH

Hi Cathy, ya know I hesitated on puttin' that particular verbiage in there but then thought what the heck, it's really how I talk/write! Thanks for the visit!

 

Hello Maureen, Oh sweet, thanks for the re-blog!!! Please feel free to flag this a fabulous feature too, LOL!

 

Hey there Cheryl, How very cool, you did an interview? I wanna know all about it!!! Something about that those words 'sans pants'.......

 

Hey Debi, Well thank you very much, I try, I really do. I am known to be a silly goose :)

 

Hi Michelle, You are so right when the client can see a visual {{{BING}}} they get it! Thanks for stopping by!

Aug 19, 2009 05:21 AM
Jack Gilleland
Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton - Clayton, OH

Got to admit when I first saw the post I had no idea what home "sans pants" could mean.  Thanks for the enlightening.  Oh, your 100% right.

Aug 19, 2009 08:55 AM
C. Bartch
Newark, OH

Jack, I'm my own little world here...I could have worded it;

  • "Buyers are looking at your home in their undies"...
  • "Buyers are looking at your home on the internet"... ( more professional ) Ack!

You are not alone, my husband had no idea what that meant and I had to tell him it meant no pants. I'm still a goof by nature and will probably be all my life ;)

Aug 19, 2009 09:43 AM
Ann Allen Hoover
RE/MAX Advantage South - Hoover, AL
CDPE SRES ASP e-PRO Realtor - Homes for Sale - AL

Your pictures are great........flowers and plants can make a big difference!

Aug 19, 2009 01:33 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Cynthia- You are so right about the "I want it and I want it now" sense.  Great pictures to illustrate the need for good curb appeal and a great post.

Aug 19, 2009 02:44 PM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

Sans pants indeed!  Can we get a picture of that?  lol

Aug 19, 2009 04:31 PM
Cindy Bryant
Redesign Etc. Home Staging - Houston, TX
"Houston Home Staging Pros"

Curb appeal is huge, and it does make a big difference in getting someone to stop vs. to keep on driving.

Aug 19, 2009 04:58 PM
C. Bartch
Newark, OH

Hi there Ann, I thank you on the picture compliment. Yep, I certainly agree with you there, they make it look fresh and inviting!

 

Hi Kathy, I just wish I didn't have that sense when I see shoes :)

 

Hey Georgina, Oh my can you imagine? No, no, no! No photos please!!!

Hey on another note are you still living off the grid? I remember reading that quite awhile ago and showed my husband. I hope I don't have you mixed up with another AR member.

 

Hi Cindy, Here in my area it certainly is a big deal, I know it was for me when looking to buy another home!

Aug 20, 2009 01:01 AM
Wendy Carroll
Coeur d'Alene, ID

Great post and so well-written!  Every home I've ever bought had great curb appeal.  I pretty much knew before the front door opened that I was going to like it.

Aug 20, 2009 02:30 AM
Debby Dutilh
Art and Soul Home Staging - Los Angeles International Ai, CA

I love it, Cynthia! Memorable writing and prictures for a great post meant to be shared!

Aug 20, 2009 03:05 AM
C. Bartch
Newark, OH

Hi Wendy, Thanks so much! I know what you mean, I shopped online for my last two homes and the curb appeal made me stop & click or it was off to the next one!

 

Hello Debby, I sure do appreciate your very kind words. I get lucky with the camera at times, Woo-Hoo!

Aug 20, 2009 12:36 PM
Karen Dembsky
Peachtree Home Staging LLC, Home Staging in Atlanta, GA - Peachtree City, GA
Atlanta Home Staging

made my smile this was a fun read -- but more importantly to the point -- the point of importance!

Aug 21, 2009 03:35 AM
C. Bartch
Newark, OH

Glad I could do that for you today Karen, Yep it was to the point, your words spoken like the teacher you are. Love it!

Why I was adjusting some off center pics as you were viewing this...Ooops it knocked me off the dash board!

Aug 21, 2009 04:08 AM
Russell Lewis
Realty Austin, Austin Texas Real Estate - Austin, TX
Broker,CLHMS,GRI

Cynthia, I found this post in the 2nd chance blog and came right over. Very clever title for an excellent post on the importance of curb appeal, staging and condition! I hope this one gets a feature!

Feb 23, 2010 12:09 AM
C. Bartch
Newark, OH

Hey Russell, Sorry I'm just responding to this but I think there is gremlin in server as I'm not getting notifications in a timely manner.

Yo know I could have gone w/ a more eloquent title but sans pants sounded more like how I speak :) Thanks for stopping by I appreciate you taking time to read this!

Feb 26, 2010 08:02 AM