Don't forget the curb appeal! Portland Oregon Home Benefits from Exterior Staging

 With all the winter weather we have had, I find myself with a big case of spring fever during a rare sunny day in Oregon.  While rummaging through my staging photos I came across some photos I took last spring of a house that needed staging on the exterior as badly as the interior.  With Spring just around the corner, I felt you might enjoy the before and after photos of this project as well as a small list of items for homeowners to look for when looking to place their homes on the market. 

So many times homeowners are focused on only staging the inside of the home and leave the outside to chance.  I find this a tragedy as the buyer is not even interested in going inside if they are not attracted to the outside.  We are all familiar with the saying "You can't judge a book by it's cover" unfortunately this is not true when it comes to selling a home.  Most buyers won't bother to go in if they can't get past the view from the curb. I am always reviewing the home from the moment I pull into the driveway.  I have created a list of questions that  have found helpful in assessing the curb appeal of my clients home.  Below are a few of the items from my list that I feel are the most important.

• Is the grass trimmed and green?
• Are the flower beds weed free and full of color and living plants?
• Are the trees and shrubs trimmed and tidy or are they hiding the houses view from the street?
• Can I see the front door?
• How is the exterior paint and trim?
• Are there fences or decks that need sprucing up?
• Is the front step cluttered with stuff?
• Are there hanging baskets or planters with dead plants?
• Is the walkway dirty or moss covered?
• Are the light fixtures in working order and in scale with the home?
• Is the door clean or freshly painted?
• Are the windows in need of cleaning?
• If there are pets, is the yard free of pet waste?
• If there are children, is the yard or front walk littered with toys?

As stagers we owe it to our clients to help them with the outside of their home as well as the inside.  I hope that all of you out there are making suggestions to your clients on curb appeal so they may capture the buyer from the curb to create a picture perfect sale.

I hope you enjoy the before and after photos.

Front Yard BEFORE

Front Yard After Staging

Front walk Before staging

Front walk AFTER staging

Back Yard Before Staging

Back Yard After  Staging