SAVVY SPACES

CURB APPEAL Tips

by the Experts at Cowan Realtors

Fraunfelter Road, Submitted by Agent, Melinda Sebenoler

Curb Appeal is one of the most important factors in selling a home! Someone drives by your home and instantly wants to look at the inside because the outside is so appealing. It is the prospective buyers’ first impression of the exterior of the home. If the home’s exterior looks clean and well maintained, the buyer assumes that the interior will have the same attributes. It usually increases the value of the home and will help sell the home more quickly because more shoppers will take the time to tour the inside of the home, if the outside draws them in. The main focus for curb appeal should be landscaping. It does not need to be extensive. Landscaping should be neatly trimmed, weed free, and not overgrown. You should be able to see the house, not just the trees and shrubs. Grass should be cut and weed free. The house should not have peeling or weather worn paint. The roof shingles should look fresh, not stained. The driveway should be edged and in good shape. If a house looks shabby from the outside, people will think the inside is not cared for or maintained. Even in a newer home, if the landscaping or yard are not maintained, the house will lack curb appeal. Fraunfelter Road: The landscaping used in the front of this home provides an almost resort-like feel. Carefully mowing your lawn to leave perfect geometric lines can cause someone to do a double-take when passing by, because it simply communicates an elevated level of care. Fresh mulch makes the landscape feel clean and manicured. It gives your lawn a finished and refined look by occupying the empty spaces, which also helps in making the maintenance an easier job. Seating in front of a home provides a welcoming invitation to all that visit and can become a great way to connect with neighbors and foster community. The entrance is the first encounter for you, your visitors and the design moves that lie within. Offering a bright, power washed driveway also relays a message to potential homebuyers that everything is well cared for. Adding décor to the front door can say so much about the occupants. Hanging baskets of flowers and wreaths are not just for Christmas or Easter, they work just as beautifully for fall and spring door décor, too.

Timberfield Drive, Submitted by Agent, Reneé Smiley

Timberfield Drive: The darker paint scheme of this home provides a perfect backdrop for neutral or colorful landscape choices. The addition of stone veneer is a fantastic way to add texture, color and interest to a home’s exterior. Since stone has a natural aesthetic, matching stone with vinyl siding colors is easy. Perfectly installed light fixtures on the sides of the front door and garage doors, as well as under the eaves, can draw attention to unique features and provide safety at night.

Fairway Drive, Submitted by Agent, Julie Brodbeck

Fairway Drive: Circular driveways not only look great, but they also create a comfortable entry for drivers. They offer more space to park and give drivers a safer option besides backing into the street. They usually fit best on larger properties because there needs to be sufficient front yard space. Shutters add charm and character to a home. Even though modern-day shutters are purely cosmetic, they should still match the shape and size of your windows and look like they could cover the windows perfectly when closed. If your window does not have space on both sides, it’s best to skip the shutters. Hanging plants are also a nice touch!

A Team of ONE!

Amazing Achievers Bridget Mulcahy

by Paige Brinkman

Lima Central Catholic High School (LCC) senior, Bridget Mulcahy is finishing up her last year of golf. Bridget started golfing at a super young age with her grandpa and sister. She really started taking golf seriously in middle school when she and her sisters noticed a group of girls with lots of potential in the LCC community and “knew we could have a good team in the future.” Bridget practices at the Shawnee Country Club and this happens to also be her favorite course. The LCC Girls Golf Team has won the state tournament the past four years (2018-2021) and Bridget was a part of the winning team the last three years (2019-2021). Along with winning three state championships, Bridget was NWOGGL Player of the Year in 2021 and a member of the All Ohio Team in 2021.

2019 State Champion Division II Girls Golf

The LCC Girls Golf Team is looking a little different for Bridget this year, for she is the only one on the team. Bridget plays the girls’ schedule by herself but she also gets to play in tournaments with LCC’s Boys Golf Team. With there being no girls on her team, it makes everything different. Bridget’s sisters were always there to push her in practice and motivate her at tournaments, but this year she says, “I have to motivate myself to practice and to play as hard as I can without my teammates there to push me.” Although she does not always have to practice by herself, she gets to practice with the

2021 State Champion Division II Girls Golf

boys sometimes, which she says is nice. “They are like my team too, so I want to play well when I play with them.” Even with the team being different this year, Bridget is still aiming to play to the best of her abilities and succeed at the state tournament. She has been taking this season, one tournament at a time and tries not to dwell on her bad rounds or get too excited about her good rounds. “Keeping neutral is the key to success in golf in my opinion,” states Bridget. Her key to success is working because she recently won the sectionals tournament at the end of September, shooting a 79, which means she qualified to compete at the state tournament!

Bridget also participates in Mu Alpha Theta Math Club, National Honor Society, basketball, and dance at Lyn’s Academy of Dance. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, watching movies, playing card games, and loves watching basketball. Bridget hopes to attend Bowling Green State University to study education.