If you’ve done even cursory research on selling your home, you’ve heard “curb appeal,” “curb appeals,” and “curb appeal.” Since you know that buyers hear “location,” “location,” and “location,” the best thing you can do to make your location stand out is to flaunt your stuff. That doesn’t mean you have to undertake significant landscaping projects or renovations. Consider a few simple adjustments to your home’s initial presentation to see substantial results.
First impressions
- Neat and tidy. Before launching into expensive outdoor projects, take a moment to view your home from the street. Better yet, step across the street and take a look at your house and those of your neighbors. Do you have weeds? Is your lawn trimmed? Do you edge it along the sidewalks and flower beds? Do you have dry, yellow, or bare patches? Start with greening up the lawn. Give it some water and fertilizer. Trim it up and neaten around the edge. If you’re considering selling your home shortly, hire a professional lawn service to get your green stuff in top shape.
- Next, look for cracks, broken hinges, shutters sitting askew, wobbly fence posts and other items that need some maintenance. You don’t need to remodel the outside if you’ve kept it sharply maintained.
- Check your walking paths. Are there loose bricks or stones? Reset them in place. Is the concrete chipped and broken? You can tackle filling in the cracks yourself with easy mix cement from your local DIY store or hire a pro to repair it for you. Often, you don’t need to tear up the whole walkway; you can fix only the broken section.
- Hide anything ugly. Often, it’s not what you’ve put in your yard, but things you have no choice about that hinder your curb appeal. If you have utility boxes, meters, and other eyesores that you can’t move, hide them. Place a flower bed with taller bushes to the street side of utility boxes in the lawn, or a couple of potted plants in front of a meter next to the front door. Make sure you don’t block the meter or box itself though since your utility provider needs access.
- Add some lipstick. Put a fresh coat of paint on the front door and a coordinating color on the shutters. Make sure paint on any trim on the front of the house is not peeling or chipped.
Your property professional can advise you on the first impression improvements to complete on your home, so reach out and seek their advice.
About the Author
Ellen Garcia
Ellen Garcia Broker, GRI, SRS, ABR, RSPS, SRES, RENE, MRP, LRS, LSE, LSS, AHWD, e-PROÒ Ellen believes that listening and understanding her clients' needs are the foundation of a successful business partnership. Her knowledge of the many unique communities in Fairfield County is an invaluable asset to clients new to the area, and she is able to help anyone moving to, from or within Fairfield County make an easier transition into a new home and community. For clients who are preparing to sell their homes, Ellen offers her first-hand knowledge of how to leverage the strength of a "brand" in showcasing and marketing their properties. Ellen offers a powerful advantage in bringing her skills and resources to work for her clients. With over 10 years, of full-time experience in the real estate industry, she is well-versed in the Fairfield County real estate market. Ellen has successfully completed: · Over 130 closed sales and rental transactions · Representing a dollar volume of over $65 million Ellen’s people skills lead the way in building a strong network to assist and support her clients in achieving their goals through every step of the real estate process: · Negotiations both local and global · New business development (sales & marketing) · Creative problem solving · Building partnerships · Tapping into Halstead Property’s network of 1100 agents in NYC and Lower Fairfield County Her career in Real Estate has been recognized with many awards including: "Agent of the Year” for Halstead Property Wilton and "Most Closed Sale and Listing Transactions” numerous times. Within Connecticut, Ellen has been recognized over the past several years as a "Connecticut Magazine 5 Star Realtor”. Awards 2016 & 2014 AGENT OF THE YEAR – HALSTEAD WILTON – HIGHEST GROSS SALES 2016 - 2011 CONNECTICUT MAGAZINE 5-STAR REALTOR AWARD 2016 - 2013 MOST CLOSED LISTINGS – Wilton Office 2016, 2014 - 2012 MOST CLOSED SALES – Wilton Office 2016, 2015, 2014 HALSTEAD PROPERTY PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL 2013, 2012 & 2011 HALSTEAD PROPERTY DIRECTOR’S COUNCIL 2014 HALSTEAD – PLATINUM CIRCLE 2016 HALSTEAD - GOLD CIRCEL 2015, 2013 HALSTEAD – SILVER CIRCLE 2007 COUNTRY LIVING ASSOCIATES OUTSTANDING RELOCATION SPECIALIST PRESIDENT'S AWARD (2005, 2006 & 2007). Leading Real Estate Companies of the World PREMIER CLUB – SILVER AWARD FOR REFERRAL ACHIEVEMENT (2006) Sales Associates Recognition Program Professional Associations: · Connecticut Association of Realtors (CAR) · National Association of Realtors (NAR) · Consolidated Multiple Listing Service (CMLS) · Connecticut State-wide MLS (CTMLS) · Mid-Fairfield County Association of Realtors (MFCAR) · Senior Advantage Real Estate Council (SAREC) · Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council (REBAC) · Seller’s Representative Specialist Council (SRS) · e-PRO Professional Designations: · BROKER · ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative) · SRS (Seller’s Representative Specialist) · RENE (Real Estate Negotiation Expert) · GRI (Graduate Realtor Institute) · RSPS (Resort and Second Property Specialist) · MRP (Military Relocation Professional) · SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist) · LRS (LeadingRE Relocation Specialist) · LSS (LeadingRE Sales Specialist) · LSE (LeadingRE Service Expert) · AHWD (At Home with Diversity: One America) · REALTOR e-PRO · CONNECTICUT TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION
