Posts tagged curb appeal

All Around Curb Appeal!

Apr22
2011 Leave a Comment Written by mary.w

/Some homeowners exert tremendous time, effort and money creating a wonderful first impression for buyers to view as they pull up to their home. That is a good thing. What is not so good, is using your entire budget and effort in the front while ignoring the side and back portions of your home. You may draw them in with your beautiful front yard, flowers and swing under your covered front porch BUT if they walk out your back door to a moldy deck, trash cans, overgrown weeds and a yard that looks like the NFL just practiced there; well, the front yard is no longer at the forefront of their minds.

It is important to create all around curb appeal so that no matter where they are looking, they are excited about what they see. You wouldn’t think of just painting the front of your home and leaving the sides and back chipped and revealing rotting wood, would you? (Ok, now I know some of you said yes to this, but that would be the wrong answer so please continue on).

Before you head to the garden center or big box store, develop a plan on paper that includes cleaning, painting and planting needs for all exterior portions of your home. If you are not an avid gardener (as many of us are not) ask questions and learn which plants will offer the longest blooming life, most vibrant colors and require the least maintenance (this is at the top of my list!). If you don’t have a lot of yard, create potted plantings. You often see beautifully detailed flower pots on either side of a home’s front entry. Do the same at your side and back entry doors, too.  A simple thing that will yield great rewards!  See your home as a total exterior package and use your budget to maximize the entire picture.
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8 Ways to Improve Curb Appeal

Nov16
2009 3 Comments Written by Shanna

curb appeal

Remember when you were a house hunter? You may have driven through neighborhoods to get a feel for the types of homes in the area or how close they were to schools, shopping, highways. And right after location, the #1 thing you were noticing was how the place looked outside.

When done right, curb appeal has the power to pull potential buyers in, implying that the interior of your home will be just as impressive as the façade. When done wrong, it can turn buyers away and eliminate any interest they had.

So what can you do to improve your property’s curb appeal? Here are eight quick areas to work on:

  1. Landscaping: A manicured lawn, trimmed bushes and thriving flowers can do wonders for a home’s overall appearance. Don’t have time to plant? Potted plants can be just as beautiful, set near the entryway or on a front porch.
  2. Driveway: Repair any cracks or stains in your driveway and look for ways to upgrade it such as adding flagstones or staining the concrete.
  3. Exterior/Façade: Repair any damages to your home’s façade, and give it a fresh coat of paint, if applicable. Another important thing to notice is the condition of your gutters: do they need to be cleaned or replaced? Now is the time!
  4. Front Door: Sometimes a fresh coat of paint or new staining can dramatically improve the look of your entry; choose a color that will pop, and you turn your front door into a real focal point. Other updates include new hardware, new house numbers and/or a new outdoor light fixture. Maybe even add a wreath!
  5. Roof: A new roof isn’t just good for curb appeal; it also is vital for the weatherproofing and insulating of your home. A quality roof can actually reduce heating and cooling costs, which is a benefit that communicates easily to buyers. Plus, for information on green roofing options, see this Buy Owner Blog article!
  6. Lighting: Landscape lighting heightens the drama of your home’s curb appeal by adding ambiance. Consider using solar lighting for a green option!
  7. Mailbox: Ideally, your mailbox should complement the rest of your home’s style and be in mint condition. To dress yours up, consider fresh paint or new staining, depending on its materials.
  8. Decorative features: From seasonal flags to attractive birdbaths or sculptures, there are many options for completing your home’s look. One goal to keep in mind is symmetry.
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Keeping Up with Curb Appeal

Oct19
2009 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

curb-appeal

With seasonal changes comes seasonal upkeep. Each season presents new chores to keep up with, especially outside. When your house is for sale, it’s vital that you keep up with the curb appeal of your home. When potential buyers see the Buy Owner sign in the front yard, all they have to go off of is the external appearance. When potential buyers visit for an open house, the external appearance is what they judge first. In your ads, the first picture potential buyers will view is usually of the front exterior.

• In order to keep up with the curb appeal as much as possible, consider the natural elements. Fall means raking up leaves and trimming bushes. Winter means shoveling the snow off the driveway and the walkway. Spring means cleaning out the gutters, planting flowers and fixing paint chips. Summer means planting more flowers and mowing the lawn.

• Every couple weeks, stand in front of your house and just look at it. It’s often hard to judge your own home, so consider asking a neighbor or friend for advice too. By stepping away from the home and looking at it from the view of potential buyers, you’re more likely to notice little nicks, cracks or stains that you would otherwise pass right over.

• After taking a good look at your house from a distance, look closely at each individual aspect. Browse the entire scope of the roof and the siding, using binoculars. Walk up the driveway and walkway, while closely reviewing the surface. Stroll through the grass, look up in the trees and brush cobwebs off the bushes. Take your time.

• Handle one issue at a time, so you don’t feel overwhelmed. If the driveway could use a renewal, plan a day to resurface it. Once that chore is complete, wash around the windows that you noticed were collecting spots. Then, trim bushes and pick dead flowers from the pots.

• Continue to enjoy your curb appeal. If you’re proud of the appearance of your home, others will take notice. Relax on the front porch and breathe in the fresh air. Decorate the walkway with annual flowerpots, or with pumpkins and gourds. Build a snowman in the winter. Make the appeal clean, upgraded and homey.

Posted in Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , ,

Building a Deck

Oct02
2009 Leave a Comment Written by Carrie

19148236

Are you interested in building a deck somewhere on your property? Before you get into the logistics of size and space, you should first decide why exactly you want a deck. What do you hope to get out of it?

  • Do you want to entertain guests outside during the warmer spring and summer months?
  • Do you want to beautify your lawn and add curb appeal with some sort of focal point for passers by and potential buyers?
  • Do you want to add an extra living space?

Whatever the reason, once you decide what the overall purpose of your deck is, you can then get into the facets of planning it.

Placement & Privacy
If you’re building a deck in the backyard, it might be because you want to entertain outdoors or perhaps you’d like to lay out by a swimming pool. Before you begin building, head outside early in the morning and notice where the sun hits your property; check again later in the afternoon, as well. This may be a deciding factor as to whether or not you would like to enclose your deck and make it a lanai/porch. And if you want some privacy, you’ll need to add screens, blinds and a door.

Size & Space
An empty deck looks big… until you fill it with furniture. If you have already purchased the furnishings, you must measure the space accurately to ensure that all of your pieces will fit atop the deck. The size of your yard will also play a role in this decision, so try not to furnish your deck until after you’ve built it. Just keep in mind that you may want a table, a few chairs and perhaps a grill station if you choose to build an open deck. Don’t go overboard.

Levels & Railings
If your home rises up well above your lawn, try to avoid building your deck lower than the house. You might remember that little step, but chances are that your guests might not notice it and take a little tumble as they step outside onto the deck. Also, you may want to consider installing railings. It’s a huge liability for you if someone were to fall off of your deck and break a bone.

Stairs & Skirting
Again, if you are building a raised deck, you may want to build stairs that lead down to the yard. Consider the landscaping, though, and place the steps to the side of the deck where people will have the most room to walk and access the rest of the yard. In order to keep fuzzy friends from breeding under the deck, you may want to build lattice skirting around the bottom. It’s a nice decorative addition, as well.

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Your Landscaping Can Make or Break a Sale

May18
2009 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

landscaping

Now that spring is in full swing and summer is right around the corner, take advantage of your reborn, transformed yard! Showing off your attractive landscaping is well worth the effort. What you might not realize, however, is that landscaping could turn a homebuyer off as fast as it can turn one on. Depending on your yard’s appearance, it could make or break a sale for you! Follow these rules and you should steer clear from landscaping mishaps.

  • Always keep your lawn mowed, trimmed and attractive. But in the process, don’t overcut it. Set your mower’s blade at three inches for less stress on the grass and less need for water. Though this might mean mowing more in the short-term, it’ll display a healthy lawn in the long-term.
  • Water the lawn early in the morning or late at night. This helps the grass retain the most water, and it won’t turn brown from being singed.
  • No matter how pretty you find the bright yellow hues to appear,
    dandelions are weeds. Get rid of them. Spray the lawn, pull the weeds, and try not to kill the grass in the process. A weed-free lawn appears maintenance-free and appealing.
  • Trees and bushes that line the exterior radiate an all-around curb
    appeal that is noticed at first glance. Keep them looking trimmed and professional by snipping away flyaway branches that interfere with windows, walkways and each other.
  • If your home’s curb appeal comes from the architecture itself,
    foliage that resides too close to the exterior can take away from that appeal. If a window provides a premium view, cut the foliage back so the view is totally visible. If the siding shows off an attractive stone or brick façade, don’t feel the need to hide it!
  • Gardens are a beautiful aspect to the yard, but only if they are
    trimmed of weeds and unwanted underbrush. If the garden isn’t flowering, stick some annuals in it for a short-term appeal (but don’t lie to the potential buyer and say they are part of the garden). If it’s a vegetable garden, make sure none of the veggies are rotting!
  • Wash down everything that will be visible to a home buyer, from the vinyl siding and the aluminum shed, to the brick patio and the concrete driveway.
  • If gardening wasn’t part of your weekend ritual, just purchase some pots of annuals for your walkway. Homebuyers might appreciate the homey appearance, and at the same time, take comfort in knowing that they don’t have to deal with landscaping.
  • Aside from actual greenery, adding charming attributes to your yard
    could help a homebuyer imagine living comfortably in this peaceful retreat: Add a hammock, a birdhouse, a picnic table or a bench underneath a shading tree.

Follow these landscaping tips and your yard should steer toward making a positive sale!

Posted in Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , , ,

Why Curb Appeal Matters

Apr20
2009 Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

curb-appeal

Pull up to a home—any home, anywhere—and evaluate what you see. That initial impression you get, created by everything from the surrounding landscaping to the building’s façade, determines the curb appeal of that property.

A popular buzzword in today’s real estate, curb appeal means simply what you’d expect: it is the appeal of a lot as seen from the curb.

Because it is primarily concerned with first impressions, curb appeal becomes all-important in terms of a home sale. As in job interviews, first dates and meetings with new business clients, you only get one chance to make a first impression. The opportunity to impress a buyer can disappear in moments, and what the exterior of your home says can just as easily turn a buyer away as it can lure him or her inside.

At the same time, when done right, curb appeal has the potential to wow interested buyers, making them say things like, “This is the one!” before even opening the front door. So it’s no surprise that this hot topic has inspired several television programs and remains a common subject of home-improvement magazines and Web sites.

If you’re selling a home, make sure it starts off on the right foot with potential buyers! Here are five factors that contribute to curb appeal: Evaluate each from the perspective of a visitor. Strengthening these aspects will strengthen your home’s curb appeal!

1. Maintenance: The structure of your home says a lot to buyers about the interior. If the exterior has been well-maintained, it implies that the living spaces will be the same way. Take a good look at your home: Is anything in need of repair? Inspect the doors, windows, screens, railings, trim and building façade. Many times, it’s a good idea to give your home a fresh paint job, to help strengthen the like-new impression.

2. Walkways/Driveway: If buyers will pull up your driveway and step onto your front walkway, you can be sure they’ll notice cracks or damages. Not only should be repair such things, but you may also choose to powerwash the driveway for a fresh appearance, or in certain cases, it’s a good idea to repave it.

3. Landscaping: Think of flowers and other foliage as the accessories of real estate, like a great bag or a necklace add style to your wardrobe. Perfect for adding punches of color and decorative accents to your property, landscaping can be designed to your liking!

4. Manicuring: No matter how much you invest into your landscaping, it won’t be worth much if you don’t take care of it. Mow the lawn, trim the bushes, pull weeds: do everything possible to make the foliage look its finest!

5. Overall Effect: Beyond evaluating each factor of your curb appeal, it’s also important to look at the overall effect. After all, this is what potential buyers will most likely notice first. Aim to create a seamless, coherent appearance by painting the home façade and the garage in identical or complementary colors, for example. Whatever landscaping you add, make sure it all coordinates nicely.

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Sprucing Up Your Entryway

Dec14
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

entryway
If you’re worried that your home’s curb appeal isn’t up to par, first focus on the home’s entryway. Potential buyers remember their thoughts when entering the home because it’s the transition from viewing the exterior to viewing the interior. They will acquire an initial judgment that future guests of theirs will view as well. You want to make this entrance as memorable as possible for them.

The buyer will first view the outside of this entryway:

  • If you don’t have time or money to spend on repainting the entire exterior, take a good look at the paint around the entrance. This is what buyer’s will observe up close. Repaint areas that are chipped or stained.
  • If a walkway leads to a cement block or covered patio, think about painting it. If you have a wooden front porch, restain it. Make sure this entire area is clean of debris. During winter months, shovel the snow away and sprinkle salt on top of icy patches.
  • Take a good look at your front door. Does it contain nicks or cracks? How old is it? It may need more than a paint job. Some doors can be patched up with repair kits. In other instances, consider purchasing a new door. Doors come in multiple styles: wood, steel, fiberglass, aluminum and more. Even adding a storm door could aid with appeal and insulation.
  • Clean the surrounding windows for a fresh, crisp appearance. Turn on your outdoor lighting to make sure they all work.
  • If you own a custom name plaque or a Beware of Dog sign, take these items down. You want the entrance to appear neutral and inviting.
  • Provide a plush welcoming mat for a clean appearance. This can help prove that the interior floors have been well-kept.

Through the front door, the buyer will view the inside for the first time:

  • Make sure the flooring boasts a clean, shiny appearance. Display a plush mat or rug to reiterate the fact that muddy shoes were never an issue.
  • Clean the windows inside, too. If any of the foyer windows include curtains, keep them open. Turn on the foyer light fixture and make sure all the bulbs work. You want the interior’s first impression to be bright and homey.
  • Fill the foyer with neutral, welcoming accessories. Place a plant or a vase of flowers on a table. Offer a plate of cookies or light a scented candle. Hang a mirror or a clock. Take down any family portraits or other personal items that the buyer will not relate to.
  • Lastly, use the time of year to your advantage! If a holiday is approaching, decorate the main attraction of your entryway. You don’t want to go overboard with holiday décor, but you can use it to attract the buyer’s attention to a selling point. If a grand staircase resides right inside, wrap a strand of holly around the railing.
Posted in Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , , ,

Decorating Tips for Your Porch

Dec05
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Carrie

If you have recently enclosed your covered porch, or if you have purchased a home with an empty sunroom, what is the next step you should take? Like any room in your house, the enclosed porch, sunroom or Florida room deserves some decorative attention! Here are a few tips for turning that plain porch into an inviting sitting area that is sure to impress guests.

Shades and Blinds
If your porch has an abundance of windows, you might choose to apply blinds for those days when the sun shines a little too bright! Simple rattan roll-up blinds offer a summer look and can be easily raised and lowered. Fabrics for curtains, although colorful, will fade over time from the constant exposure to the sunlight. And since curtains can sometimes be costly, a more affordable option to cover floor-to-ceiling windows is a shower curtain! They are very easy to install and come in all kinds of colors and designs.

Flooring and Rugs
If your sunroom offers access to the backyard, the best options for flooring might be concrete, slate or vinyl tile. Indoor/outdoor carpeting is also a comfortable option. You can always soften the look of the hard floor with hemp accent rugs that add flair, yet remain semi-resistant to dirt and moisture.

Furniture
Depending on the size of your porch, if you plan on entertaining guests in this space, adding a table, some chairs and couch is ideal. Lots of patio furniture is made of wood or wicker, to be able to withstand outdoors. However, if you have installed electricity and a heating/cooling system, feel free to add any type of furniture you like! You might even want to consider purchasing a porch swing! It’s a nice alternative to a recliner, usually found in a living room or family room; and most are sold at hardware stores and department stores with the intention of customers placing them in outdoorsy areas.

Fabrics
After adding some patio furniture to your porch, dress it up with comfy cushions and colorful pillows! If your porch is more of a sunroom than an extension of your home, you may want to consider pillow fabrics such as woven polyester or laminated cotton. These can easily be purchased at fabric stores or stores that sell camping equipment.

Lighting
Who says you can’t enjoy the outdoors at night? Built-in lighting, table lamps, lighted fans and floor lamps make all the difference. Unless you have extended your home’s electrical power into the porch/sunroom, it is best to avoid conventional lighting. However, if the porch is equipped with electricity, add strings of Christmas lights. They twinkle like stars in the night sky! Yet, since the space is drenched in sunlight during the day, you could even consider a green option and use solar-powered lights! Don’t over do it; provide yourself with enough light to see where you are going. This way, you will spend less money, be kind to your neighbors, and you will feel as though the soft moonlight is illuminating your porch.

Plant life
A sunroom offers you the opportunity to spruce up your new space with verdant plants! Potted plants can be placed on window sills or small tables. Install a small hook into the ceiling and add hanging plants for even more flair! By using natural decorations to put some life into your porch, you can create an instant connection from your enclosed space to the rest of the landscaping in the backyard! Feel the warmth of mother nature all year round.

Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , , , ,

Adding Decorative Flair to Doors

Oct23
2008 1 Comment Written by Becky

It’s been said that first impressions stick. At a job interview, on a date. So why wouldn’t the same go for houses? I’m not talking about curb appeal, although that’s certainly important. What I’m talking about is the first thing you see when you enter a room, actually, even before you enter the room. It’s the door, of course! Instead of sticking with the same old boring wood, why not spruce up the door to add visual interest to the space?

There are a few things you can do to add decorative flair to your door without spending a lot of time or money:

Molding
Panels that resemble wainscoting or shadow box trim will add dimension and visual interest to a simple door. If the room is decorated with wallpaper, you can go a step further and line the door panel with matching wallpaper to tie the door together with the rest of the room.

Camouflage
Paint the door so that it blends in with the walls and unifies the space. If the walls are lined with chair rail trim, then put matching chair rail trim on the door for a seamless transition. Continuing the wall decor onto the door will help expand the space and create a more open atmosphere.

Decorative details
Decorative doorknobs or door panels can transform a boring door into an expression of your personal style. Don’t be afraid to be creative. Use tongue-and-groove paneling strips to infuse a rustic feel into a modern space, or try a glass doorknob for a more sophisticated approach.

Letter transfers
Letter transfers are a unique option that will set your door apart. Available in a variety of font styles, letter transfers can be used to mark any room in your home. This decorative idea is particularly ideal if you’re big on entertaining, as it will save you the trouble of constantly directing your guests to the powder room.

What do you think? Would one or more of these suggestions give your doors added flair? Remember, first impressions matter, and you only get one chance to make them!

Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , , , , ,

Green Idea: Xeriscaping

Jul07
2008 3 Comments Written by Allegra

XeriscapeIf you love gardening but always have the current global warming crisis on the back of your mind, you may have a growing concern for the amount of water you’re using to keep your plants alive.

Did you know there’s an alternative that can put your worried mind at ease?

It’s xeriscaping.

What’s xeriscaping? Xeriscaping was invented in Denver, Colorado, by the Colorado WaterWise Council to help people improve their landscapes while using less water. The word comes from the Greek word xeros meaning dry and the Anglo-Saxon word scape meaning view. Xeriscaping uses seven gardening principles that save water while creating a lush garden.

The perks of xeriscaping:

  • Lower water bills
  • Less work because of its low maintenance
  • Little to no lawn mowing, which saves energy
  • Helps conserve water

The seven gardening principles:

  1. Plan and Design
  • Before any xeriscaping can be done, a well laid-out plan needs to be set in place. Create a sketch you’re your backyard or whatever area you plan on putting your garden in. Remember to include existing structures like trees and bushes, if they exist. Consider the costs of your project, the design appearance you’re after, the function of the space and the maintenance it will require. Next, visualize the xeriscape garden you want. Choose the plants, rock beds, etc. having a plan and design will help things run smoothly.
  1. Soil conservation
  • In a water-conserving landscape the soil should both drain quickly and store water at the same time. Healthy soil grows healthy plants. You can analyze the soil to see if its needs improvement.
  1. Create suitable turf areas
  • Turf (grass) areas are necessary for open space and visual interest but keep them to a small, yet usable, size. Plant drought-tolerant turf grass in these areas.
  1. Choose the appropriate plants
  • Plants for xeriscaping should also be drought-resistant. If possible, use plants native to your area. Trees, like gray birch, cedars and elms, help reduce water evaporation by blocking the soil from sunlight. Perennial flowers include baby’s breath, Arizona columbine, succulents and tulips. Annual flowers include cosmos, marigold and zinnias. These are just a few ideas. Don’t forget about drought-resistant plants and bushes such as hydrangea, juniper and potentilla! Plants with silvery, waxy, fuzzy or prickly leaves tend to be xeriscape friendly.
  1. Use mulch
  • Cover the soil with a mulch to help conserve soil moisture and retain temperature. Options for organic mulch include peat moss, manure, sawdust and compost.
  1. Have an efficient irrigation system
  • This helps conserve water. Soaker hoses and drip irrigation systems are the simplest way to water your xeriscape garden and they deliver water to the base of the plants. Never over-water your garden; that counteracts the preservation!
  1. Proper maintenance
  • Xeriscape gardens are low maintenance but still need to be tended to. As with any garden, prune and weed. Add extra mulch when needed.

Once you have successfully followed the seven gardening principles for xeriscaping, you can sit back and enjoy your attractive, water-conserving outdoor oasis.

Image (the xeriscape symbol) Source: Aggie Horticulture

Posted in Green Living, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , , , , , , , ,
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