Curb Appeal
Getting your home ready for the sale!  

Look at your home from a buyers prospective.  Along with staging, curb appeal is one of the most
important things you can establish when selling your home.  Curb appeal is about how your
buyers feel when they first see your home.  It is about the color, the landscaping, and everything
right up to your doorknob.  You want to get that buyer out of the car, up the walkway, and into your
home.  Start by looking at the outside of your home.  Is your lawn and landscaping at par or better
than that of your neighbors?  
Landscaping
 Front door and entry way
A well-kept lawn implies a well maintained
home.  Keep your lawn trimmed and edged.  
Don't let any flower beds become over grown.
 The front door should be attractive and
welcoming.  This is the first part of the home
that the buyer is exposed to.
Add some color.  Visit a local nursery and plant
some mature shrubs and plants.
 Paint or stain the front door.  Replace if needed.
 Replace or remove any torn screens or screen
doors.
Keep sidewalks, decks, and patios cleared of
debris.
 Polish the door knob until it shines or even
replace with a new one.  Make sure the door
bell, lock, and handle are in working condition.  
Oil the hinges.
Don't forget the backyard.  Keep the lawn
mowed.  Don't let any flower beds become
overgrown.
 Replace any missing house numbers.  Make
sure the house numbers are visible from the
street even in the evening.
Board any pets or keep the yard clear of any
messes.
 Make sure your home has ample lighting on the
outside and that the lights are in working order.  
Store lawn equipment neatly.  Clear the yard of
children's toys.  If you have pools, ponds, or hot
tubs, keep them clean.
 Put out a potted plant or welcome mat.  If you
have a personalized welcome mat, exchange it
with something else.  You are trying to
depersonalize.
Roof, Windows, and Siding
Repair any bent or loose shutters.  Replace only if necessary.
Repair any loose gutters.  Replace any missing shingles; especially those visible from the street.
Paint window trim.  Replace any cracked windows.  Wash windows inside & out.  This will help
provide natural lighting on the inside of the home during the day.  
Power wash vinyl siding if needed.  Paint siding if necessary.
Now you are ready to move on to the interior of the home.  
This is the most time consuming and the most difficult
emotionally for some sellers.  You must clean, declutter,
and depersonalize.

Read more for information on staging.
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on Curb Appeal
814.931.8256
wilthn@excite.com