I am an ardent believer in staging your home before selling, including making necessary repairs, cleaning, painting, de-cluttering, and adding a vase of flowers. The interior of your home, however, is not where the first impression is left on potential home buyers. The first impression is experienced from the street. This often overlooked fact can cause buyers to drive right by your home without a second look. Thus, curb appeal is equally as important as interior staging.
Curb appeal can involve more than just mowing the lawn and planting flowers. Cracks in hard surfaces can leave the impression that there may be foundation problems. Peeling paint, unmended fences, and outdated awnings, mailboxes, and porch lights create a shoddy appearance. Most of these fixes are fairly inexpensive and can go a long way toward making your home look sharp.
Overgrown yards should be trimmed and purged of unsightly plants and shrubs. On the other hand, barren yards can be dramatically improved with the addition of small trees, shrubs, and flowers. Simple impatiens are great for shady areas, while there are many beautiful succulents to choose from for hot and sunny spots. If trees are added, choose smaller varieties, especially if you're planting them close to the house. Simple "boxwood" shrubs should be planted at least two feet apart as they will grow together over time. Fill spaces between plants with inexpensive bark to give a neat and tidy park-like appearance.
The bottom line: spend a little time, money and effort making your home look like a home you would be interested in if you were house hunting. Much can be done without spending a lot of money, and keep in mind that your home may sell for a great deal more than it would without these changes. At the very least you will give the impression that your home has been well cared for during your ownership.
For a personal evaluation of what can be done to improve your curb appeal, contact me, Mary Walker of The Real Estate Group in Torrance at (310) 508-8507. I will be happy to advise you on staging your home both inside and out.
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