Welcome Home!
This is what you want buyers to feel when they drive past your house & pull into the driveway for a showing.
The curb appeal will be the first impression of your home. Buyers & agents will notice a well cared for lawn & front entrance to the home and will also notice if it has been neglected.
The most common areas of curb appeal that have the biggest impact on home buyers are:
Lawn
Lighting
Fencing
Front entrance (driveway & walkway)
You don’t have to do a huge transformation of the front, a little spruce up of the curb appeal will go a long ways. Here are a few tips for you to add desirable curb appeal almost immediately with minimal investment:
- Mow the grass weekly & edge the borders
- Wash &/or wipe down outdoor light fixtures
- Add solar lighting to add nighttime appeal
- If you have a fence repair loose or broken boards and re-paint or stain if needed
- Power wash driveway & sidewalk and remove any weeds
- Fresh coat of paint on the front door
- Consider adding a flowering potted plant & chair
- Put a brand new "welcome" door mat in front of the door
Here are more tips for Lawn Care provided by my company, Keller Williams:
Mowing a Lawn 101
Stick to the 1/3 rule try not to remove more than 1/3 of the grass blade length in a mowing.
Mow when the grass is dry. This is when grass blades are upright, and less clumping.
Mow in the morning or night. Mowing in the heat of the day stresses the grass.
Aim mower clippings (unless you bag them) towards the area you have already cut.
Leave clippings (unless you bag them, or their clumped) as it returns nutrients and nitrogen to the lawn.
If you bag your clippings, consider composting them.
Pruning
Prune away winter damage once plants have lost their leaves. Cut limbs back to live wood.
Mulching
If you're mulching a large area, use a cheaper hardwood mulch for the ‘filler’ then top-dress it with your mulch of choice. You can also top-dress old mulch by just adding a 1-inch layer on top. It'll look brand new, and you're not paying for something you don't see.
Planting Annuals
Annuals are plants that live for only one season. Late spring is the best time to plant annuals such as Petunias, marigolds, salvia, and impatiens. Make sure roots are not too matted so they can expand into the soil.
Gardens
Flower gardens make a yard look beautiful and welcoming. Vegetable gardens give the added bonus of providing fresh vegetables to eat.
One of the best gardening tools is a monthly landscaping calendar. To download one for your area, visit The National Gardening Association’s website. Plug in your zip code and you get a specific plan for your area.
Plants, flowers and shrubbery are great ways to add allure and definition to a home’s landscape. Flowering plants are a wonderful addition, but homeowners should consider the appeal when the plants are not in season and flowering.
Planted herbs are easy to plant and maintain. They also do great in pots for entryways and backyard patios.
By investing a little time and money into the yard this spring, homeowners can increase their home’s valuable first impression and “wow” factor.
When you're thinking about making a move, whether it's buying a home or selling your current house let me know. I'd love the opportunity to help! You can reach my team at 910-679-6525.
-Brittany