Curb Appeal has become a commonly used term among homeowners in the last few years. It used to be more exclusive to the real estate field as it is a crucial element in generating sales. If a buyer doesn’t like what they see from the curb they won’t even get out of their car. No sale will ever happen that way!
Curb Appeal is basically your home’s billboard whether you have it for sale or not. In advertising, a billboard has to sell the customer in the amount of time it takes to drive by it. Not a heck of a big window of opportunity, eh?
The exterior of your home and surrounding area literally lays the foundation for what one can expect to find inside. It also reflects the tastes and personality of the people who reside there.
The next time you are out and about, notice what home and landscaping features catch your eye. On the attractive end of the spectrum, I’ll bet that well-groomed landscaping, interesting hardscaping (stone walls, water features, pergolas, etc) and the color of the house are what stand out the most. If you are attracted to these features, your eye will continue to notice the details – the driveway, paths, lawn décor, etc. Now, on the opposite side of the spectrum, I bet that neglected lawns, strewn toys and garden equipment, peeling house paint or disrepairs of any kind jump right out at you as well. In either scenario, what conclusions do you automatically draw about the homeowners of these places? It is amazing that in a span of 15 seconds or less our minds can and do process all of this visual information, isn’t it?
Are you curious what your home says about you? Try looking at your home from across the street. Drive by it from direct directions. Look at it as friends, family and passers-by do. Often times we become so accustomed to looking at something day after day that we no longer notice the obvious.
Ask yourself these questions:
-Can I even see my house? Are the tree limbs and hedges neatly pruned?
-Is there any disrepair? Missing porch railings? Lopsided mailbox? Peeling house paint?
-Can guests easily find and safely access my front door? Is my front door attractive and welcoming?
-Are there enough lights at night for both security and decorative purposes?
You get the idea……..Truly, this list can be quite extensive. If you have difficulty putting your finger on what areas of your home’s exterior may need attention, here’s an idea. If you have a digital camera, take shots of the outside of your home from a number of different angles. View the color version then remove the color and look at it in black and white. Problem areas are easier to see when there isn’t any color to affect our senses. Or, if you’re daring, you could just ask a neighbor for their opinion!
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