As I was strolling through my neighborhood this weekend, I noticed an open house going on. But it wasn't the large red and blue sign that initially drew my attention to the home. With its lush lawn, flowering shrubs, sweeping front porch - which had two rocking chairs nicely placed on the front stoop - the stunning two-story home was begging to be visited.
Spring is typically the busiest time for Realtors to hold open houses. With housing prices across the country dipping, buyers have become more particular in their home search. Strong curb appeal will help your house stand apart from the competition.
Here are some helpful curb appeal tips to makeover your home:
Landing and porches. If space permits, a landing or porch should have a bench, or at the very least, a small outdoor chair. Rocking chairs always add a nice homey feel to a traditional home. To make the area look and feel more inviting, add some small accessories like hanging plants or wind chimes.
Lighting. Keep walkways and stoops well lit. A wall sconce is useful for giving off some light around an entry or passageway into the home, but you can also use decorative lanterns to shed some light and add a little more ambience to the home.
Mailboxes. Swapping out a boring old mailbox for one that is made from sleek vintage bronze, brass or black metal is an easy addition to your curb appeal.
Plants and flowers. A nicely mowed yard alone isn't going to cut it. Choose plants that offer variation in color, texture and foliage. Landscapers love using Boston ivy, because it offers green foliage in spring, berries in summer, red foliage in the fall and interesting vine patterns in winter. Use a variation of textures and height to help frame the front entrance of a home. Plant low ground covers nearest the path leading up to the home, with the more colorful and textured plants in the middle or rear of the lawn. I'm a fan of the Pacific hybrid delphiniums, Asiatic lily and ligularia for some colorful showmanship.
Lawn. A recent survey of 2,000 Realtors by HomeGain.com reported that an investment of $500 in lawn improvements would likely yield 400 percent of that total when selling the home - that's an extra $2,000 tacked on to the home price! Gardeners of large estates are gussying up their traditional lawns with more than just grass. Fellow Homescape blogger Frank Schulte-Ladbeck says the use of various herbs and weeds are a great addition, because it doesn't require as many herbicides or fertilizers, making it an eco-friendly option. These botanic alternatives will also fill in sparse patches faster than grass, so the lawns look fuller. Try planting aromatic herbs in the front lawn, such as mint and lemon thyme patches, to create enticing smells.
Got hot local housing tips or a story you want to share? Contact Amy Le at openingdoorsblog@homescape.com.
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