FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE EMPHASIZING the HUGE IMPORTANCE OF CURB APPEAL

       This is our home (that we currently live in, while we are rehabbing it.) As you can see when we

purchased this 4 bdrm,2 ba,3 car garage in July of 2006; it was not a "vision" in the least bit. 

As a seasoned broker/realtor; investor and VISIONARY (wink/wink) Dave and I have made a tremendous

transformation to date.  These photos show the importance of CURB APPEAL.

Walk slowly past your house from both directions. What stands out the most? The faded paint on the garage door? A mailbox that hangs askew? Dead grass and patches of dusty, bare ground? What about the rusted out truck in your neighbor's side yard? The goal is to fix and replace the things that will show the greatest return on your investment.

Even more important is knowing the right type of repairs that can add thousands to the selling price of your house for relatively little investment.

When purchasing flowers, try to stick with perennials; they will continue to produce a colorful palette year after year with minimal effort.  Also consider WHEN various perennials flower, or bloom? Carefully select perennials that will produce BLOOMS all year long (early spring, spring, summer, late summer and fall)

    Simple, inexpensive additions that liven a home are shutters. They are lightweight, come in a variety of colors and styles, easy to install; and can absolutely TRANSFORM the exterior of a home.

Be sure to pay attention to which GREENERY (shrubs, ivys, ground coverings) OR PERENNIALS require SUN,SHADE or PARTIAL SUN.  Making the right choices of location in the very beginning will limit the amount of "trajedies" you must remove and re-purchase the following year. REMEMBER: IF you are developing CURB APPEAL for the purpose of increasing the value of your property and turning it for a relatively quick profit? KEEP a close eye on your expenditures. Watch for sales, spend a Sunday afternoon driving farm fields and gathering rocks for lining gardens (purchasing rocks, like some of the HUGE ones we have lining the perimeter of our property? can cost hundreds of dollars!!  )

As a homeowner or investor with a property for sale you need to have enthusiastic buyers making offers in order to see maximum gains. Enthusiastic buyers and Realtors will result in a higher selling price in a much shorter period of time.

Does your home make a good impression?
Does it make a strong statement to neighbors and to potential buyers?

It helps to write down a complete inventory of what is wrong with your home's appearance, then make a list of ways in which you can fix those problems. It could be as simple as adding a flower bed or planting a tree. If your home lacks visual depth, installing a portico over your front door could be the solution. A walkway lined with bright flowers is always helpful. A good, old-fashioned paint job can give the home a face-lift, as well as new siding. If the roof looks dull, replacing the shingles can breathe new life into the house. View all repairs and improvements with the idea that you'll make back your money three, five, or even ten times over with these tips.

                                           Higher Perceived Value = Higher Selling Price

The most important thing to keep in mind when preparing your house is to be objective. Look at your house and yard as if you were a buyer, and determine curb appeal from that perspective. You may notice things you've spent years overlooking. By spending a little time fixing up your house, you could potentially add thousands to the selling price.

        Curb Appeal Sells 49% of All Houses
           National Association of Realtors

            Outlining, "Curbing", Edging; unlimited ideas to spruce up your yard.

Try some of these ideas:  These are photos of BEFORE & AFTER

I hope you have enjoyed the photos and ideas I have shared regarding this very important subject.

IT DOES NOT have to cost a mint to accomplish dramatic changes in the "APPEAL" a property has to a prospective buyer.

PUCKETT PROPERTY MANAGEMENT (here in Northern Illinois) incorporates a plethora of IDEAS when presenting "management contract/services" and HOW even small amounts of CURB APPEAL can be an integral part of NOI (net operating income)

Be sure to contact Patti or Dave at: 815-378-8607 OR puckettpatti@yahoo.com for more information or to obtain a consultation for PROPERTY MANAGEMENT services in BOONE and WINNEBAGO COUNTY, IL