Bring Out that Curb Appeal

Julia Broder -- Holiday greetings from The Riverside Realty Group in beautiful Westport, CT! We've been working long hours in theFairfield County real estate market as buyers want to cash in on some of the great luxe properties that are only now coming up for sale . . . amazing estates and new construction on beautiful parcels of land . . . and you can get some great inspiration from my Luxe Properties website! Visit it often for the latest and greatest in high-end real estate.

I would love to show you outstanding high-end residences, Luxies! If you are confident that you can benefit from the prices in the market, then now is a good time to buy. Please contact me today at 1-203-247-7500 for more information on how we can work together.

 I'm excited to have Christine Rae, Certified Staging Professionals, writing this month's Luxe Properties column on how the beauty of your home on the outside will enhance its overall chances in today's real estate market. Here's Christine!

Studies show that . . .

people generally make a list of ten houses when they start their search for a new home. They scour real estate agents and MLS sites to develop those lists and then 77% of them drive by before they contact a real estate salesperson.

It's a given that the location and size of house generally initiates the interest in seeing a property; in fact we hear it’s approximately 78% of the decision to actually consider viewing a property. Many articles have been written about first impressions and how quickly they are formed. Malcolm Gladwell suggests it only takes the “blink” of an eye. Think of that; one blink and an impression is formed - good or bad.

The power of the Internet is illustrated again with the blink factor when less-than-stunning photographs are advertising your property. Great photos can have such a positive influence on the viewer – and actually help get your home onto “the list.” Staging property before you rush to market will save time, effort, anguish, and money.

The “drive by” or the “look see” means curb appeal has a huge impact on the viewer. It’s the lure, or bait to get an interested buyer into the property. One of the most difficult things a seller has to do is view the property objectively. A helpful hint from Janet Wickell is to have the seller take digital photos of the property, view the color versions first, then remove the color and look at them in black and white. Many people believe it's easier to see problems with the absence of color.

Here are ten things to consider when assessing your home's curb appeal:

• Pressure wash siding, decks, and walkways.
• Clean windows, gutters; check downspouts.
• Check the growth of trees and bushes – ensure they don’t block light from any window.
• Kill any mold and mildew around the property.
• Mow the lawn, eliminate weeds, rake and dispose of leaves, especially if a wooded lot.
• Paint the front door. Color choice has a big impact – so get professional advice.
• Make the front entry sing “welcome.” The degree of what can be achieved here depends on the size of entry and, of course, budget. However, even minimal improvements will make a huge difference, so consider flowers, kick plate, new mailbox, hardware, lights, and house numbers.
• Don’t forget the rear yard – buyers may attempt to see the back yard during a drive by, even from another street.
• Outdoor lighting is a huge plus as fifty percent of viewings take place at night. Today we are fortunate to have access to inexpensive but tasteful low voltage lighting. Consider placing it along sidewalks, driveway, or attractive landscaping elements. Take extra care to ensure your front door and numbers are clearly visible from the street.
• If the inside of your home is visible at night, be sure the lighting enhances what is seen.

Remember: you never get a second chance to make a great first impression.

Photo credit: Grow See This

This article reprinted with the permission of casaGURU. casaGURU is an everyday, everywhere, anytime homeowner website built on the premise that every home deserves a house expert.