TIPS FOR SELLERS

The biggest mistake someone selling their home can make is spending the entire renovation budget on the inside of the house. Do they think future buyers will ignore the front of the house and not form an opinion until they get inside? Curb appeal has never meant so much in a housing market as it does today! Buyers begin to assess a home right from the picture on the listing page. Want to make the most for your home? Here are my simple tips to make the best first impression!

Choose Containers Over Plant Beds to Add Color to the Front Yard.

I never want anyone to think that having plants is a bad idea. Homes with healthy plants and flowers are considered more welcoming to a buyer. However, you never want a buyer to think that the front yard is high maintenance. Plant sparingly because not everyone has a green thumb. Instead, use containers to bring plants that are in bloom to the front door, maximizing the visual interest in the space.

Lights at Night are a Must. As most potential buyers will often drive by a listing after work, setting your house apart is important. Don’t go crazy and install a complete new outdoor system; moderation is very important. Lights that face downward and highlight the edge of the path allow your guests easy access and help make your front yard a safer space. Aim for welcoming and not airplane runway when installing them, especially if you have a long front walk. Use some of the new solar spotlights to highlight your favorite house features and don’t forget to point one at the “For Sale” sign!

Consider a New Paint Job. Paint is great for freshening up your home and also for adding a new a color scheme that highlights the character of your house. One of the easiest and least expensive ways to get instant curb appeal is through great house colors. But what colors should you choose?

I’ve seen many different colors used successfully, even in combinations that would surprise you. The way that I choose paint colors is to take a bunch of the latest paint chips and stand outside and try to find the corresponding colors in things around; like the trees, or other houses, or even in the rocks. If you can find those colors close by, then you know that those choices will work best because they will complement your existing surroundings.

Steps To Better Curb Appeal

1 ADD SEATING TO THE FRONT YARD!

People visiting a home will describe it as being more welcoming and friendly. Even if no one ever sits on the bench, the concept that you created a seat just for anyone to use is well worth the money spent.

2 HIDE THE GARBAGE!

Too often, homeowners need to store their garbage cans, recycling and compost bins in the front of the house because they have nowhere to store them. Consider adding panels or even creating a space under the front porch to discretely store your bins when they are not on the curb.

3 MAKE A WALKWAY!

Having a big front walkway can provide huge returns. Buyers include accessibility into the home as part of their criteria when selecting a house. Having a clear access point into a home is so important because it draws the eye straight to the front door, which is always the very first thing a guest looks for when visiting a house for the very first time.

The Cost Of Landscaping

The cost of landscaping always seems to shock homeowners. Somehow people relate the cost of landscaping to the cost of gardening and are surprised to find out that decks and wood cost more than plants, not to mention the labor involved to install them. In speaking to several industry professionals, the average backyard renovation starts at around $20,000, with some projects crossing the million-dollar mark. With such a huge range, how do you know how much your outdoor renovations should cost and how much should you really be investing in your home?

One of the biggest mistakes that a client makes is to envision what they want in the yard BEFORE they really set the budget. When I meet with a client, I start by asking what the approximate value of the home is. If you set your budgets based on percentages of your total home’s worth, then you know that your plans will stay in line with property values in your neighborhood.

Front yards have been getting more attention by REALTORS® and housing experts because of first-impression numbers. Several online sources place the value of curb appeal and a home’s first impression between 5.5-12.7% 1 of the home’s worth. Items like shade trees and front walkways contribute to higher returns, as do front porches and sitting areas. While plants and gardens are important to the overall appeal, too many flowers in the front yard intimidate buyers looking for lowmaintenance homes. As my general rule, I try to keep the front yard landscaping at 7% of a homeowners renovation budget. That number does not include the driveway even though it may be at the front of your home.

Backyards tend to be more about function than a front yard renovation. Good design can offset the shortfalls from the inside of the home with outdoor elements that meet the same need. For example, if a home has a small kitchen, adding an outdoor version with a barbecue or a smoker is a smart investment because it partially addresses buyers’ concern when they see the inside space. Having a good deck or patio in your backyard that provides lots of living space can increase your home’s value by up to 12.4% 2

As you plan your spring projects, budget your dollars accordingly. I always tell homeowners to set aside about 20% of their renovation budget for the outdoors. This may seem like a lot, but with all of the housing market numbers showing big returns in landscaping, you can renovate knowing that your money is being spent wisely.