What is Curb Appeal?
Curb Appeal is simply the appeal the home has from the curb or the street. It is the first impression of the home and property. Curb appeal is the first impression of you home and an indication of how it is maintained, both inside and out.
How much it affect my home’s value?
A lot, Actually! According to www.homelight.com ,well landscaped homes can cash in on as much as 5.5%-12.7% more than one that lacks landscaping. For a $300,000 home, that’s anywhere from $16,500- 38,100. In addition, the National Association of Realtors cites that 94% of realtors suggest improvements their sellers need to make to curb appeal and 99% of them believe that curb appeal is important to attracting buyers.
What should I do to improve my home’s curb appeal?
Here are some ways you can boost your curb appeal…
- Keep the entry neat and tidy. This includes the grass being cut, edging and sidewalks trimmed, no weeds in the flower beds, fresh mulch or straw in the beds. One way to help insure that your landscape looks neat and the beds are well maintained is through the use of landscape borders. There are lots of different types to choose from: wood, metal, stone, block, and concrete. While wood can rot and metal can bend, stone, block and concrete will be more landing and durable. When installing stone and block, keep in mind that in addition to the cost of the materials, they must be installed. Even after stone or blocks is installed, grass can creep between and around them. Concrete landscape edging is long lasting and durable and doesn’t allow grass to grow up into your beds. In addition, our Moroccan Stone product won’t allow the grass to creep in. See some examples of landscape curbing in our gallery.
- Make sure the entry is clean and well maintained. The property should be recently pressure washed or cleaned so that there is not mold, mud or debris on the house or sidewalk. If wood is rotted or paint is chipped on the porch, railing, and columns, or the condition of the light fixtures and outdoor fan are less than desirable, steps should be taken to remedy this problem prior to listing.
- Make the entry feel welcoming. Place seating on an entry porch if there is room for one, a wreath or welcoming sign on the front door, a fresh door mat, substantial pots with fresh plants by the front door or at the edge of the porch.