Real Estate Blog - The WOW Factor-Curb Appeal

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The WOW Factor-Curb Appeal

Door Mat When selling your home it is important to keep your home in tip top shape. One of the most important attributes is Curb Appeal. You never know when that special buyer will drive by. Even when a buyer comes to view the property, sometimes the first impression is the lasting impression.

If your lawn is not manicured and the exterior of your home is in need of maintenance, you may as well be telling the buyer to Go Away in Most instances. The belief is "If the outside is not taken care of, just imagine what the inside looks like." I have heard this many times from buyers.

The following are some tips to get your Curb Appeal up to par:

Lawn- In Houston we have Hot, Rainy summers. Often times even waiting 7 days to mow the lawn is too long. If your home is active on the market, try to keep it trimmed and manicured...not overgrown. Don't forget to edge.
Flowerbeds- The one thing I dislike most about flowerbeds are the weeds, I don't like pulling them. But again, try to keep them minimal. I sometimes pay my daughter to pull weeds. Nice summer work after it had rained and it keeps the "I'm bored" from coming out for a little while.
Shrubs- It's amazing how keeping the Shrubs even will make your yard look immaculate. Try to even them up and not have a few wild limbs growing out of control.
Exterior Paint- Paint on the home over time gets dull and sometimes chips. Not only is that a way to get wood rot, but takes away from the beauty of the home. Touch up the paint if you need to.
Windows- Try to clean up those windows and make them shine!
Gutters- Gutters tend to get full of leaves over time. I have even seen trees starting to grow from gutters. Get them cleaned out and re-hung if they are starting to fall off.
Sidewalks and Driveways- Sometimes renting a Power Washer for the day can help tremendously. If your sidewalks or driveways are starting to look a little dingy, use the furniture polish for concrete. Power Washing!

Door Mat This may seem like a lot of work, but it is worth it! Put yourself in the buyer's shoes for a moment and think about how you would feel about the home. With a Sparkling Curb Appeal the exterior of your home will be ready for the spotlight and have your home saying "I'm Gorgeous!" to all prospective buyers.

Posted by Stephanie Edwards-Musa, Realtor ® Spring/Woodlands, TX Real Estate on 07/27/2007 11:26 AM

Comments (29)

curb appeal, tips to sell home, the woodlands tx, real estate, spring tx

Originally posted at: Realtor ®-The Woodlands Real Estate : The WOW Factor-Curb Appeal

This post has been included in Texas Information Montgomery County, TX Information The Woodlands, TX Information

29 Comments on The WOW Factor-Curb Appeal

JUL

2007

Great tips...thanks for the info...gives yet another perspective for sellers.

I know a lot of this seems like common sense, but I'm bookmarking this post Stephanie. Useful tips and insight.

Thanks Sally!

Hi Jason, you would be surprised. :) Thanks for stopping by and I'm glad it helped!

I'm sorry, I didn't actually rad your post - I was laughing at the "go away" doormat!

I showed a trash-heap of a home today - it should have said "go away" too, would have saved us the trip.

Hi Jeff, I thought that was pretty funny myself. :) I will be showing some of those tomorrow. Nice to see you around today!

Stephanie--You can tell from the moment you drive up to the home if the sellers are serious about selling based on the condition of the exterior! Good post!

Stephanie, how did you make that mat ? The post is great too, but how did you make that Mat ?

Stephanie - love the post - you are the Woodlands | Springs Texas Home Selling Expert - love the mats too :-)

Stephanie, This is a fiver for sure. Most buyers do make up their mind about the house by the way it looks on the outside.

Another one otta the park! You should definitely do something with this one, maybe a post card!

Great tips and a great blog - thanks for sharing - you rock love the photos

JUL

2007

Stephanie such a great list of basic things to do. It does seem obvious but in the stress of selling it can be easy to overlook.

Great post...can we include this in our listing presentations compliments of YOU?!?! It's totally true---when the outside is "iffy" the inside is usually PRETTY SCARY on some!!

Great post Stephanie. Very well laid out and to the point without offending. This is a great post to print with your permission and give to sellers and prospective sellers! Katerina

Stephanie...

You make me want to go shopping a buy a different door mat for every day of the week. I love the "Go Away" one. LOL.

TLW...ROAR!

Hi Cheryl, nice to see you stop by. I agree, the outside is the first impression.

Hi Missy. LOL :) I used the imagechef.com...I think it was Maggie that posted about it. I saw the door mat and just had to do a curb appeal post. I was cracking up.

Thanks Cyndee!

Hi Mana- that's so true. If the outside looks bad, they often times won't give the inside a chance. Thanks for the 5. :)

Hi Dana, that's a great idea! I had not thought about that. Thanks for the idea!

Hi Thesa, Thanks!

Hi Ashley, sometimes I think seller's get caught up in getting the inside looking perfect they forget about the outside...the first impression. Thanks for stopping by!

Hi Susie and Katerina..Let me think about all that. :)

Hey TLW, nice to see you stop by. :) They have the Go Away one at Garden Ridge Pottery here. I almost bought it one time but knew my mother in law would flip when she came over.

Stephanie,

This is so true! I had buyers today that didn't go inside some of the homes based on what they saw outside.

JUL

2007

I love it! I actually almost bought a GO AWAY mat because it was so funny.

I few weeks ago I was showing a home that was listed at over $600,000. The lattice under the deck was down, half under the deck, half in the yard. The deck had not been treated in some time, the yard was full of sticks, leaves, and debris...and my buyers wouldn't even go inside. They said they saw enough, they knew how the home inside was cared for by the looks of the outside.

It was a shame - and I think it's rather nervy to expect someone to fork out over half a million dollars and you can't even be bothered to stain the deck and clean up the yard!

Hi Rita, it happens to me all of the time. I used to make my buyers look inside anyway...but now I think it would make more of an imipact on the seller's if I put in comments that my clients wouldn't go inside because of the condition of the outside. I know it would make me think really hard if I was the seller. :)

Hi Karen, I almost bought it too. :) It's one thing if it's a foreclosure..or poor condition is expected...but when the seller wants top dollar? It is a shame. Thanks for stopping by.

[quote]but now I think it would make more of an imipact on the seller's if I put in comments that my clients wouldn't go inside because of the condition of the outside.[/quote]

I have put that on the show notices that I send back to agents...well, not those words exactly, but I've given specific reasons why the people didn't like the particular property. I have seen so many that say "Just not for them" or "Buyer liked another house" - okay, well and good, but it doesn't help anyone out any. I don't suppose it's my job, as a buyer agent, to help the seller, but I do it as a courtesy because I would appreciate honest feedback on my properties.

Hi Karen, I agree. I used to feel the same way...but detailed honest feedback is also a subtle plug for us. Who would they call after the property expires and doesn't sell? :) I've had it happen.

Stephanie, you rock! The Woodlands is lucky to have a great agent like you! I do so love the doormats!!!

Thanks Chris!!

Thanks for the positive words. Of course, I immediately went to your blog to check out your stuff. Great content! You definitely have information of use for both buyers, sellers, and agents. I'll be sure to check you out again.

JUL

2007

GREAT graphics. Very apropro! I think this is just the type of thing consumers are looking for when the visit Localism.

AUG

2007

Hi Stephen, you are very welcome! The Go Away was not for the readers. :) Hope to see you around!

Hi Margaret, Thanks! I hope this is what they are looking for. :)

AUG

2007

Stephanie, great post! Very cute doormats! So......do you provide those for your sellers? :-) LOL

I rated this a five......it was so "right on."

AUG

2007

Thanks Teri, No I do not provide them yet. That would be an excellent visual for a listing presentation though. ;-)

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