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Flowers Can Make a Home Feel Alive and Help With Curb Appeal

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA

Dull homes sometimes bring curb appeal down a few notches in buyers eyes. If you pull up to a house on a cloudy or rainy day, and there are no lights on in the house, the house sometimes just projects a dull feeling and image. I seem to drive a little slower down driveways on houses like that. Buyers usually make comments like "Does anyone live here"?, " It looks vacant", " Was this a foreclosure"?, etc.

 So how do you make a house like that look alive, brighter, more inviting, and lived in?

 Inside, it might take some cleaning and painting, but outside, invest in some inexpensive projects like, a new porch light, leave a porch light on, a new mailbox, paint the front door, add a brass kickplate to front door, install new doorknob, make sure mulch and leaves are off of walkways, and select a few locations to add some flowers! Maybe plant some by mailbox, some in a small garden bed out front, some around a light pole, even consider some potted plants on the front steps, or some hanging baskets.

 Don't over do it, but add some bright colors here and there that will help the home look and feel alive and lived in, and more inviting to buyers.

 Set a budget that you can live with, then decide what projects you can afford. You might even want to ask your listing agent if they are willing to buy a few plants. I've bought more then one potted plant and hanging baskets for my listings. I've even hung a few artificial plants inside on some listings.

 See how this one blanket flower brightens up this blog? It works on houses as well!

 

blanket flowers

Jeff Pearl | Lic in VA

Remax Distinctive

703-727-4876

Homes | Land | Farms | Historic

www.jeffpearlhomes.com

Equal housing

David Shamansky
US Mortgages - David Shamansky - Highlands Ranch, CO
Creative, Aggressive & 560 FICO - OK, Colorado Mtg

Agreed, not only color and appeal but the feeling of well cared for comes to mind

Jun 16, 2015 08:30 AM
Stefan Winter
Real Estate in IL & NV | Owner of Real Estate Web Tech | Daily Vlogger - Las Vegas, NV
Owner - Winter Group & Real Estate Web Tech

Yes, a few green bushes or plants and some colorful flowers can do wonders to the front of the house. Also making sure the driveway, walkway and front porch are clean is quick, easy and shows you are taking care of the home.

Jun 16, 2015 08:39 AM
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

#1- Hi David, Exactly. people can tell when a home has been well cared for.

#2- Hi Stefan, So true. Simple but effective tasks that are easy to perform!

Jun 16, 2015 08:46 AM
Winston Heverly
Coldwell Banker Access Realty - South Macon, GA
GRI, ABR, SFR, CDPE, CIAS, PA

Hi, I really enjoyed your read today. It hit a lot of points that affect our day to day sales activities. Hope to run into others from you soon.

Jun 16, 2015 02:13 PM
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

#4- Hi Winston, Thanks. Every litle bit of improvement helps when selling.

Jun 16, 2015 09:35 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

This is very good advice. Everybody loves flowers. I might even stop to take a few photographs.

Jun 17, 2015 01:28 AM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

Flowers brighten up everything. Curb appeal is vital to getting people in the front door!

Jun 18, 2015 07:23 AM
Claude Labbe
RLAH / @properties - Washington, DC
Realty for Your Busy Life

Flowers, yes.

Bees....hmm, maybe a bit further away.

Though yes, the process of adding vibrant life to a home listing is key for perception.

Jun 22, 2015 08:27 AM
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

#6- Thanks Roy. yes, it can give people a chance to stop and look a little more closely!

#7- Hi Barbara, yes, they do help with curb appeal!

#8- Hi Claude, I guess it depends on what type of bees. We're trying to attract bees. Bright colored flowers can look good from a distance as well!

Jun 22, 2015 08:32 AM
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

You only have one short at a good first impression, so flowers in front of a home  will certainly be an improvement.

Jun 23, 2015 06:22 AM
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

Hi Jeff Pearl ,  You're right....They sure did brighten up the blog.  You're right about the appearance of the house too.

Jun 30, 2015 01:05 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Jeff, you are so right, just a few colorful flowers outside and inside can sure make a difference!

Jul 02, 2015 09:11 AM
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

#10- Hi Joe, Yes, people are quick to form opinions of properties. Thanks.

#11- Hi Larry, Thanks!

#12- Hi Joan, it doesn't take a lot to make a  noticable improvement! Thanks

Jul 03, 2015 09:41 AM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

Our scrolling through looking for a recent post. Hope you have a wonderful week.

Jul 07, 2015 10:46 PM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

More than once I have helped spruce a place up to.  Sure feels great when you get the good feedback!

Aug 05, 2015 12:52 PM