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Friday 14 October 2011

Arousing Customer Interest With Curb Appeal

By Alice Nance


As would-be home buyers now use the Internet to view property they wish to own, first impressions mean more than ever before. If your house doesn't quite impress, then all they need to do is click for another listing. A great exterior will not only stop a surfer, it will get a drive-by buyer through your front door. Curb appeal means everything when it comes to first impressions! The front of your house is its calling card, and it's up to you to make sure it's giving the right number.

Let's get brass tacks out of the way and mention what you have to do before anything else - maintain that exterior of yours if you don't want would-be buyers turned off faster than you can say "upkeep." You have to be very meticulous when removing moss off the roof and washing the windows - don't just wash the siding, pressure wash it. Your front walk needs to be weeded out as well. Take care of the details. A faded driveway needs to be re-sealed as soon as possible. Fill the cracks in your sidewalk. Trim back unruly bushes, mow the lawn and add mulch to tidy up garden beds. Put away tools and other yard clutter - the property should look well taken care of.

Your front entrance may need some livening up. You can do several things here, including totally changing the front door for a more attractive engraved wood finish, or having it decorated with glasswork. Changing the door's hardware can also help it stand out. The doorknob and knocker should be polished. Add a fragrant aroma to the entrance of your home by placing some planters near the front door - worked for me, and it just might for you as well. A front doormat, simply put, makes your house feel like a home.

Changes that cost more can also increase the selling price. You may want to paint your house, for instance, and if that is the case, look for potentially striking color combos by searching on the Internet, reading interior design magazines, or combing the city for great-looking houses. But since painting an entire house may be too much for one to handle, you can simply paint the trim and shutters. Adding window boxes can also brighten the exterior.

One final technique you can use to increase your property's value is to have it landscape. You can add a few shrubs and flowering bushes and that'll do, or if you can afford one, hire a professional landscaper. A well placed bench can help potential buyers imagine themselves sitting in their new garden.

By simply giving more attention to your exterior, you can have potential buyers flocking to your doorstep. Remember that curb appeal is your Mr. October regardless of what time of year it is, and could help you hit a winning home run with potential buyers.




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