Does Your Home Need to Lose 10 pounds? Or a Little Nip and Tuck?

Personally, I rather like and prefer the hidden from view look. I'm kind of a private person and my home is my sancturary so I've actually designed a very thick and lush landscape that hides my home for the most part.

I see a lot of homes that are under contract.  I am amazed that some of them ever got sommeone to actually go inside.  Many people do not realize that the general appearance often makes a difference as to whether someone will look at the home or not.

A big part of me understands what you are saying.  But I love big trees (assuming they are doing no damage).

Barb, those photos speak volumes.  What a difference.  Thanks for sharing the before and after.  I wonder just how much more that home would have sold for if it was in the "after" stage.

Barb, that's a great reminder! A couple of weeks ago I went to a broker's open house and saw a georgeous home in an upscale neighborhood and that $3 million dollar house had a lot of mature trees that were blocking the "million dollar view" of the ocean and Diamond Head. The agent did point out the fact that the view was behind the trees and I couldn't help but wonder why the homeowners didn't trim the trees before putting the house on the market ...

Barb - What a great set of pictures to show what a difference a few nips and tucks can make.

Hi Barb, excellent way of presenting the need to trim that front yard!

Hi Barb, I love your heading a real attention getter. Amazing makeover on that house, great post!

Awesome post, Barb. Great visual explanation. A picture DOES say a thousand words!!

Barb--The trimming does feature the house more, but I wonder if the previous owner had kept the mature trees for some privacy?  Or if it's the south side, for some seasonal shading? 

Your photos tell it all!   Curb appeal is what gets buyers excited to go through that front door and tour the inside of the house.

Lose the junk in the trunk.

I ask people if they ever sold a car.

Usually they say Yes.

I ask did you get rid of all the contents and detail it?

Usually they say yes.

Good now think of your HOUSE as the car you sold.

Get rid of the crap, clean it to the point of being deetailed and we can get it sold.

If it has dings dents paint chips etc we will get less for it.

Funny how when ya make it simple people get it.

Or you can feed the house those fiber bars until it craps like there is no tomorrow.

It's really true about the outside being a reflection of the inside. You just drive up & can tell - I've never been surprised yet! 

Good post. What drives me crazy is when you can't find the sidewalk through the shrubs.

I couldn't agree with you more! Had your blog been a tad longer, you might have included deferred maintenance on the exterior only to walk into a home to find it lovely inside! I recently spoke with a client whose home has deteriorated on the outside and is now going to find a contractor to fix the damage and paint...what a difference a day/week makes! Bravo on an excellent blog

The value of curb apeal can't be overstated!  Great post.

An excellent post. Pictures really tell the story and drive the point home.

Great points!  As an investor who renovates a lot of homes, I am always very conscious of curb appeal...and one of the easiest ways to make a big difference is to bring the house out from hiding.  Chop down trees and bushes that hide the beauty of the home.  Your clients did a great job transforming their curb appeal.