By: Celeste Stewart

It doesn’t matter if it’s a buyer’s market or a seller’s market, curb appeal is a critical step in making a favorable first impression. After all, if the house doesn’t look good on the outside, chances are, the buyer will never get past the front door for a peek inside.

What makes a house appealing from the curbside? Hint, it’s not rocket science. First, let’s take a look at what’s not appealing. Peeling paint, torn screens, misaligned shutters, dead plants, weeds, junk, overflowing mailbox, cars (or worse yet boats or motor homes) in the driveway, worn out welcome mats, unkempt trees, leaves and debris, uncoiled garden hoses, trash cans, and litter.

Getting rid of the junk is a good first step. Store your trash cans out of sight, put the toys away, park somewhere else, and coil up the hose. Anything that doesn’t belong needs to go.

Before you tackle the house, take care of cleaning up the landscape. Move the lawn, trim the trees, remove the weeds, and get rid of the dead plants.

Next, freshen up. A fresh coat of paint will do wonders. Stucco or brick homes could always use a good washing. That’s right. Give your home a bath. Wash away dirt, cobwebs, wasp nests, and other grime that is clinging to the walls and hiding under the eaves. Wash the windows, using a squeegee to avoid spotting. While you’re at it, scrub the sidewalks and driveway.

Replace worn screens and hardware. Repair anything that needs fixed including the sagging shutters.

Now that the junk is gone, the yard is tidy, and the exterior of the house is freshened up, you’ve achieved basic curb appeal. But you’re not going to settle for basic, are you? To really stand out, add some finishing touches to enhance your home’s curb appeal.

Would a colorful flower pot filled with blooming flowers look good by the front door? Would a park bench or birdbath (or both) work in that area in front of the fence? How about replacing the cheesy plastic house numbers with a more attractive option such as tile or wrought iron? Use your imagination and spend a few dollars on accessories that will give your home the face lift it needs to stand out and look good from the curb.  

All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be
independently verified.

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