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5 important tips for improving your curb appeal

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Horton's Lawn Care L.L.C.

These are my top 5 tips for improving a homes curb appeal, which is very important when selling your home (and of course great for the looks of your neighboorhood, and self for those not currently looking to sell):

1. The lawn should be properly mowed, and fertilization or overseeding (depending on the lawn and budget, but do not do both together as many fertilizers will kill new seed) should be considered in many cases. Curbs, sidewalks, and driveways (concrete only as black top driveways can crack and weaked from edging as they do not have the smooth edges for proper edging) should be edged using a steel-blade edger.

2. The landscaping should be fresh and appealing. The hedges/ shrubs should be properly trimmed, and dead or dying flowers/ shrubs should be replaced. Also if the flower beds contain mulch it should generally either be replaced or touched up with new mulch to give it that fresh, well cared for look.

3. The gutters should be cleaned and free of debris. Clean gutters and roofs not only look better but can add years to a roof, as clogged gutters prevent the water from properly flowing away from the roof which can build up, and get under the shingles ruining the roof. (Same goes for debris on the roof)

4. Many homes should even be power washed to bring out their true color and not look dusty or dingy. If the home has shutters they should also be either replaced or if possible cleaned and repainted if needed.

5. Kids toys should be picked up and out of view, and porches/ decks free of toys, debris and clutter also.

This one really goes without saying, but I will include it anyways... If you have pets, clean up after them, no one wants to see, smell or step in their leavings. 

  When selling your home, if the exterior of the home does not appear to be well cared for many will assume the interior is the same way. Investing in the proper care, maintenance and updating of your lawn and landscaping can add as much as 10-15% to a homes value as well. Staging the exterior for sale is just as important if not more important than staging the interior simply because if the exterior is not appealing many will simply move on to the next house and never see all the beautiful work inside. Don't lose a sale because you blend in, set yourself apart from the rest with great curb appeal.

   Horton's Lawn Care L.L.C. is an insured, residential and commercial lawn care provider specializing in many lawn care services to assist you in the proper care, and maintenance of your lawn. You can have that beautiful, lush, green lawn you have always wanted with our lawn care services that include: aeration, detaching, lawn rolling, re-seeding, fertilization, lawn mowing, weed whipping, edging, hedge trimming, flower, shrub, and tree planting, spring clean ups, fall clean ups, landscaping, power washing and snow removal. We currently provide lawn care services in the Genesee County Michigan area primarily in Burton, Davison, Flint, Flushing, Grand Blanc, and Swartz Creek.

For a Free Estimate Call Chris at: (810) 877-9655

Let us show you how beautiful your lawn can look.

Raylene Lewis
Century 21 Beal, Inc. - College Station, TX

Great Tips as ususal & All are 100% true! A Home that makes a good first impression is likely to have more visitors and a faster sale.

Aug 04, 2008 03:06 PM
Chris Horton
Horton's Lawn Care L.L.C. - Burton, MI

Raylene- Thank you :-D It is so true that if you can't get prospective buyers to even pull in the driveway because of a poor 1st impression, there is no way you will get them to step foot inside, let alone make a reasonable offer (or even better buy the home).

Aug 06, 2008 06:06 AM
Griselda Tealdo-Perez, REALTORĀ®, e-Pro, GRI, TRC
Coldwell Banker Real Estate - Miami Lakes, FL

Chris, these are great inexpensive ideas. You want your home to look your best when those prospective buyers pass by or show up at the door. Some times owners spend a lot of money renovating but they stop short of refreshing the outside of the home, and buyers don't want to see those homes because they look un-kept and uninviting. That’s a big mistake, particularly in this competitive market. Homes have to look their best in and out.

Aug 13, 2008 08:15 AM
Lillie Painia, ABR,NHC,TAHS,SRS
Lillie L. Painia, Tri-R Realty Group - Missouri City, TX

Hi Chris,

You are so right. First impressions are usually lasting impressions! Thanks for sharing!

Aug 13, 2008 08:19 AM
Chris Horton
Horton's Lawn Care L.L.C. - Burton, MI

Griselda- Yes, in many cases all the work that I mentioned can even be done professionally for generally around $1000 or less depending on the size of the yard and landscape. Of course there are factors that can put the cost into a couple thousand just depending on sizes and what all the current homeowner would like to do, which still is not that bad at all when you think of the expenses inside many go through with changing the kitchen or flooring. However exterior improvements tend to give the current homeowner more return for their money as they can increase the value of a home by 10-15% in many areas, not to mention a great 1st impression for potential buyers pulling in :-D In this competitive market you have to really show potential buyers why your home is better than all the other homes in your area, and you just can't do that without curb appeal!

Aug 13, 2008 08:50 AM
Chris Horton
Horton's Lawn Care L.L.C. - Burton, MI

Lillie- You are also very right, 1st impressions are lasting impressions as well, and if it is a bad lasting impression potential buyers will keep looking elsewhere. Unfortunately in todays market you can't just slap a for sale sign in the yard and have it sell, you really have to make a great 1st and last impression. Lets not forget the exterior is also the last thing potential buyers will see as well as the 1st.

Aug 13, 2008 08:53 AM