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Curb Appeal Counts More Today Than Ever Before

By
Real Estate Agent with Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.

Crofton real estate is alive and well, if the activity I've experienced in recent weeks is any indication.  But the inventory of available properties is much higher than we've seen in recent years, so buyers have several homes to consider.  Showing so many homes in the same price range has reminded me again how important curb appeal is to a sale - especially in this "Buyer's Market". 

Each of my buyer-clients chose to make an offer on the home that had the best curb appeal over others in the same price range and with the same features.   Having observed this, I sat down at my computer today to make sure there was an article about curb appeal on the SELLERS tab of my website homepage, and here are some excerpts:  

 

Crofton housePUTTING YOUR BEST FACE FORWARD

In real estate, as in other things, you don't get a second chance to make a good first impression.  That first impression could mean the difference between a sale or someone driving past without a second look, or a even look inside.

I always suggest to home sellers that their first step should be to dress up the front door area.  In most cases, a fresh coat of paint on the door, freshly washed windows on the front of the house, and new or polished door hardware and lighting are musts.  A wreathe on the door and flowers in season in front of the house provide the "icing on the cake".

"People cost themselves a lot of money by not paying attention to the exterior appearance of their house," according to Jim Albrecht, ABR, a broker in Waukesha, Wisconsin.  Industry experts say new landscaping can add two to three times its cost to the home's sales price. 

 

THE BASICS

At a minimum, everything a potential buyer might notice about a home's exterior and lot should be in working order and well maintained.  For the most part, homeowners can take care of this work themselves with very little money and a lot of elbow grease.

grassItems such as burned-out light bulbs, broken doorbells and fountains, cracked panes of glass, and damaged trim should be repaired or replaced. Windows and siding should be clean, and any metal objects, such as doorknobs, mailboxes, and kick plates, should be polished.  "If the house shines like a pretty penny, it will sell more quickly," says Ed Huck, ABR®, CRS®, an associate broker in Westlake, Ohio. 

Keep sidewalks and driveways clean and passable. Lawns should be cut, edged, and green. A bag of fertilizer from the local hardware store or garden center and regular watering will perk up grass in a week or two.  In addition, all bushes and trees should be trimmed, and flower beds should be weeded and covered with fresh mulch.

"If the yard is overgrown and weedy, it's a turnoff," says Steve Griggs, president of Land Design Studio Inc. in Blauvelt, N.Y.  If bushes are beyond trimming, the homeowner should remove them unless they're covering up an unattractive feature. "It's better to have minimal landscaping than bad landscaping," says W. Scott McAdam, president of McAdam Landscaping Inc. in Forest Park, Ill.

As long as the properpty is on the market, it's important to maintain the property so it looks its best at all times.  If you have exterior lighting, be sure to keep it on at night - at least until your home is sold.   After all, you never know when tht prospective buyer may drive past!

 

MUST DO vs. SHOULD DO

Once owners have covered the basics, the line between "must do" and "should do" projects becomes blurred, with budget and timing of the sale often determining which tasks to tackle.

flowersMUST DO:  Buyers are usually concerned about the roof, since it has the potential to be a big expense.  If your shingles are curling, it will be a turn-off.  Replacing the roof will probably cost less than the discount buyers will want off the price, if you don't.   Painting a home's exterior, replacing damaged gutters and shutters, repairing broken concrete in walks and driveways, and adding exterior lighting should also be high on the list.  I recommend that you power wash the exterior, or hire someone to do it for you, if painting is not an option.  In fact, as a minimum, you should power wash any decks, fences and walkways to take years off their appearance.

SHOULD DO:  Other projects fall into the optional category.  Landscaping is a good example of the type of improvement homeowners can pursue, but only if they have the money and time.  A yard makeover can have a dramatic effect on a home's curb appeal, but the cost can easily run into several thousand dollars or more, and the improvements might take weeks to install and several months to mature.  This is a project that owners should initiate about 6 months prior to listing their home for sale.

If flowerbeds are scarce or nonexistent, you can fill flowerpots to add splashes of color.  "Yellow and red flowers are buyer colors.  They really seem to stop people in their tracks," says Mary Harker, a Dallas REALTOR.  "If there's room, add a bench to the front porch.  If not, try putting it in the yard."

Another cost-saving suggestion for improving curb appeal is to focus on plants and not worry about projects such as putting in a brick pathway, since plantings are so much less expensive than hardscapes. 

 

landscaperPLANNING AHEAD  

A recent survey by Hebert Research for HouseValues Inc., found that the average home sale is about six months from the time the owner thinks of selling to the closing date.  If that sounds like your schedule, it would be a good idea to start sooner rather than later on maximizing your curb appeal. 

"I'm working with two clients now who will be putting their homes on the market next spring," says one landscaper.  "We're planning now for plants that will be blooming when they put up the For Sale sign."  Several landscapers have indicated that about 2 percent of the people contacting them are preparing for a home sale within the year.  This is a great idea becaue it allows sellers to spread out expenses and consider more elaborate plans.  And they have the added benefit of being able to enjoy the improvements while still living in the home. 

Crofton homesellers, it's important for you to know this:  CURB APPEAL COUNTS!  Don't overlook this important factor when you put your home on the market for sale.

More articles about curb appeal:

MD real estate

 

Copyright 2007.  Margaret Woda.  All rights reserved.

CROFTON MD REAL ESTATE: For referrals to Crofton MD or anywhere in the D.C.-Baltimore-Annapolis triangle, contact Margaret Woda at RE/MAX Vision in Crofton MD.  (410) 451-1900.

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This infoMargaret Wodarmation was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. 

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Comments (8)

Melissa Olson
HOPE Lending LLC - Bellevue, WA
HOPE Lending LLC
I couldn't agree more!  Nicely written.
Jul 24, 2007 02:57 AM
ARDELL DellaLoggia
Better Properties Seattle - Kirkland, WA

Standing there at the front door waiting for the agent to open the lockbox is sometimes a LONG first impression.  So many people come in and out through their garage, so don't realize how many cobwebs and eyesores exist in that one spot where buyers sometimes spend an inordinate about of time.

Great post!  Cleaning the roof can go a long way if there is moss or pine needles all over the roof.

Jul 24, 2007 03:01 AM
David Edwards
Edwards Real Estate Group, Inc. - Newcastle, WA
This is where a network of contractors comes in handy. The market in Seattle is still strong but there is a lot of listing activity which means houses need to shine in order to get buyers to visit them.  I've got two properties right now that are undergoing complete overhauls before being listed. 2 years ago, we could have put them on the market "as-is". Agents are doing more work to get their homes sold and I think it's great. It gives professional real estate agents the opportunity to demonstrate the value they bring to the transaction.
Jul 24, 2007 03:04 AM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Thanks, Melissa, I appreciate your compliment!

Ardell - You are so right, on both counts.  That front door area is so critical.  I've even replaced the front doorknob myself, on occasion - with the sellers permission, of course.  It's such a small investment to have shiny new hardware on and around the door.

Good point, David.  The trick is to find a good contractor who is available when you need him.  In the Crofton area, good ones tend to be booked for weeks and even months ahead.

Jul 24, 2007 03:20 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital
Hey, Margaret, good advice!  It makes such good sense that yellow flowers slow them down and red stops them!
Jul 24, 2007 12:23 PM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation
Hello again, Patricia - I never heard that before... is it original?  I haven't yet decided if I agree, so let me sleep on that!
Jul 24, 2007 03:08 PM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services
Margaret -- this is a great article.  Lots of great information and since I work with buyers only, I think you are very perceptive.  I would say there are some exceptions -- however, I have heard buyers often comment, well if they have taken such good care of the exterior, landscaping etc., then the sellers take care of the inside the same way!  I did get my blog about the fleas posted and it is "featured" -- funny -- now that I think about it -- the FLEA house did NOT have great curb appeal -- it needed a lot of landscaping and there was a lot of "tall grass" and other growth around the house.
Jul 26, 2007 02:34 AM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation
Thanks, Joan, your input means a lot to me - especially since you work exclusively with buyers.  LOVE the flea story... great job!
Jul 26, 2007 12:23 PM