ESSENTIALS
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT? A FEW ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS TO GREAT CURB APPEAL
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BY ANNIE NYE, INTERIOR DESIGNER
the whole house, including all the trim, but once it’s done, stand back and look—it’s like a whole new house! This investment is one that pays off.
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THE EXTERIOR OF YOUR HOME is what provides the first impression to any visitors. Whether those visitors are guests, family or potential buyers, the curb appeal is where it’s at and what sets the mood for getting them in the door. Real estate agents will tell you that buyers make their decision within a few seconds of pulling into the driveway of a potential home. If they don’t like what they see outside, they may not even opt to check out what’s inside. “Don’t judge a book by its cover” does not apply to homes!
Nancy LeMessurier Loan Originator, NMLS# 1402740
I’VE MOVED! My new address: 5151 Borgen BLVD Suite 101C Gig Harbor, WA 98332 www.apmortgage.com nancy.lemessurier@apmortgage.com (C) 253-225-3885 (P) 253-649-4059 NMLS 1850 • Branch NMLS 1370632
It’s true—I look on Zillow every morning for new listings and potential houses. I can look at the first picture and scroll right past if it doesn’t have the right curb appeal. Everyone is different and looks for what’s important to them, but we can all agree on a few things that help with the outward appearance of a home. First, it should be decluttered. The lawn can’t have a collection of concrete statues, old cars or waist-high weeds. Your guests shouldn’t need to wind their way through your collectibles to get to your front door. Keep your lawn and flower beds well-manicured. It shows that you take pride in your possessions. The paint should still be protecting the siding, eaves and soffits of your home. If there is paint peeling, chipping or faded, it’s not doing the job and it’s time for a touchup. Most of the time, this means painting
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A few items rank high on the list of return on investment (ROI) for the exterior of your home. One idea is adding stone elements to the exterior of your home. This may mean replacing vinyl with manufactured or cultured stone or adding stone to the lower half of any bump-outs or cantilevered areas. Another hot spot is the garage doors. Most of the time this is because the garage doors face the drive, and it’s what people see as they approach your home. The front door is also something that can make a great first impression. There are lots of options for these, and elements such as glass panels or textured finishes can add a lot, especially when paired with the stone accents and a new garage door! The average ROI for garage and entry doors is 91 percent, so you can splurge on these knowing that you will get most of your money back if you should choose to sell your home. With spring right around the corner, now is the time to start planning those projects. You should also think about fixing up those outdoor entertainment spaces. Last summer I wrote an article on how to create fire pits, outdoor sitting areas and exterior entertainment spaces. Bringing elements of the indoors to the outside with these focal points provides a much larger entertainment space. It’s a space that’s open, roomy, full of fresh air and provides a setting where people tend to be more relaxed. I don’t know about you, but I am ready for summer to get here so I can be outside and be more relaxed. HEY, Mother Nature, hurry up with this spring thing and bring on the summer sunshine!