HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2008-10-16, Page 12(MS) -- In today’s housing market,
homeowners need to be more
proactive than ever before when it
comes to selling their homes.
Whereas the real estate boom at
the turn of the century made things
easy on sellers, the current real
estate climate is not so seller-
friendly.
To make their homes more
attractive to prospective buyers,
homeowners are often told to
increase the home’s “curb appeal.”
This involves how the home looks
from the street and how good a first
impression a home will make on
prospective buyers.
Homeowners looking to increase
their home’s curb appeal should
consider the following tips.
* Make a more enchanting
entrance.
The very first part of the home
prospective buyers will see is the
front door. Typically, the house
number is located right near the front
door, so the buyers will be looking
for the number and once they see it
they can’t help but look at the door
itself. A decrepit or older door will
not make a good first impression.
If you don’t want (or need) to
replace the door, touch up the paint
job.
Other ways to improve a home’s
entrance is to make sure the
doorknob or doorknocker is polished
before showing a home, and to
ensure the doorbell is functioning as
well.
These are small and easy projects,
but if neglected, they’ll give buyers
the impression that other, bigger
things might have been neglected as
well.
If your home has a front porch or
stoop, be sure to inspect it for cracks.
An older porch or stoop should be
replaced, and any chips or cracks in
the steps should be fixed.
* Ready the roof.
A new roof is very expensive, and
buyers understandably often run
from homes that need a new roof.
Sellers should hire their own home
inspector to determine the condition
of the roof before putting the home
up for sale.
If you wait until after putting the
home up for sale, it will likely take
more time to sell the home, and
buyers will wonder why the home
was listed so long. Know the home’s
ups and downs before putting it up
for sale to minimize any potential
concerns from buyers.
* Perfect the paint job.
For homes without siding, be sure
that the paint job is up to snuff. Any
areas with peeling or chipping paint
should receive a fresh coat of paint,
and this is another job that should be
handled well before listing the
home.
* Lavish the lawn with attention.
Buyers love a lush green lawn, and
that lawn goes a long way to creating
a solid first impression. The first
thing buyers will see once they pull
up curbside is the lawn.
If the grass is dry with brown spots
or appears neglected, many buyers
will find that hard to overlook.
Homeowners preparing to sell their
home in the fall should lavish
attention on their lawn throughout
the summer, keeping it watered and
possibly hiring a landscaping service
to make it more appealing.
Consider planting flowers or other
decorative foliage.
PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2008.Easy ways to increase home’s curb appeal
Welcoming
An inviting entrance can help make a great first impression
for homeowners looking to sell. (MS photo)
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