Joshua Sloan is your San Diego real estate agent at SanDiegoRealEstateBuzz.com. If you're looking for Encinitas real estate for sale, Joshua can help.
When selling your home, it's important to remember outdoor staging is almost as important as indoor staging. Just as you want to create a favorable first impression, inside your home, curb appeal can attract buyers when you least expect them.
When I had my last home up for sale, I was outside gardening when someone drove up and asked me about the house. He proceeded to go home, collect his wife and family and bring them over for a complete inspection, and subsequently purchased our home. I believe this buyer's mind was made up before he toured the home. In a similar circumstance, I saw a picture of our current home on the internet and decided this was the house for me.
Keeping this in mind, never underestimate the power of curb appeal and its ability to market a home. Here are 10 tips to keep in mind for staging the outside of a house. Most of this is common sense and requires more elbow grease than cash investment.
1. Just as with the inside, clutter on the outside of a home is a definite "no, no". Tidy the sidewalk and find a home for garden tools, kid's toys, garbage cans and recycling containers.
2. Add eye catching splashes of color by using hanging planters and containers. Draw people's attention to the area's you want them to see by creating a positive first impression.
3. Mulch, mulch and more mulch! The best way to make a garden appear professionally landscaped and well maintained is with a thick layer of mulch. Use it to hide weeds, and create borders around trees and shrubs. Choose from colors such as green, brown, red, and natural cedar chips.
Mulch can also be used to create easy walkways, just add a border and stepping stones.
4. Keeping the grass well mowed. Not only does short grass look neater, the trimmed weeds are hidden and prevented from flowering. You may consider having artificial grass installed in areas where natural grass doesn't grow well. You'll be shocked at the overnight transformation into a lush, green yard.
5. Edge the sidewalks and remove any weeds growing between the concrete.
6. Not only should the driveway be cleared of clutter, but cleaned of stains and unsightly spills as well.
7. Do whatever it takes to make your front porch shine. Touch up the paint on the railings, steps and front door if necessary. A poorly maintained porch gives the impression that the entire home has been neglected.
8. Wash all the windows, soffits, windows and gutters.
9. Pressure wash the deck to make the wood look like new.
10. As important as it is to add new plants, be objective about the existing trees and shrubs in your garden. Anything overgrown should be trimmed back or removed.
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
- A Review of the Home and Garden Party Income Opportunity
- Important Tips For Home Selling
- Home and Garden Q&A
- Home and Garden Q&A
- Home and Garden Television
- Directbuy of Buffalo to Exhibit at the Buffalo Home and Garden Show
- Reasons to start a home vegetable garden
- Tips to make your home sell on show day!
What are the Benefits of Purchasing Foreclosures Homes and How to evaluate their Worth?
By: Ron Akins | 02/12/2009Some of the numerous benefits of purchasing foreclosures homes include easy low interest housing loans, reduced asking prices and affordable upscale housing. Important guidelines for evaluating the worth of foreclosed homes are to research the web, assess the community, inspect the property, estimate renovation costs, talk to the neighbors and consult a Realtor.
Why to purchase foreclosure home in Richardson and How to buy Richardson Foreclosures
By: Ron Akins | 02/12/2009Richardson is an excellent city to relocate to and invest in real estate. As such Richardson foreclosures are a gold mine. In order to buy a foreclosure, you must do research on local foreclosures, get your finances ready, make a selection based on location and visit to the site and finally negotiate a deal with the seller.
What are the benefits of investing in Orlando foreclosures and how to bargain for a value deal?
By: Ron Akins | 02/12/2009There are a wide range of benefits that can be availed through the purchase of a property listed under Orlando foreclosures like various community empowerment programs, premium healthcare and education and popular tourist attractions. Useful guidelines for making a successful bargain hoe deal re to examine the foreclosed property, calculate renovation costs, check its market status, negotiate for a lower asking price and reduce additional costs.
What are the benefits of buying property through Dallas foreclosures and how to bid for one?
By: Ron Akins | 02/12/2009Home buyers can avail several benefits by purchasing a property through Dallas foreclosures such as financial assistance, various benefits for senior citizens and low crime rates. Guidelines for making a successful bid for a foreclosed home are to confirm the auction date and venue, visit the property, survey the neighborhood, register for the bidding, check status and make a reasonable offer.
Advantages of buying a property through Phoenix foreclosures and how to make a sound Investment
By: Ron Akins | 02/12/2009By investing in a property through Phoenix foreclosures, home buyers can available several advantages such as tax credit incentives, low interest loans and vibrant cultural hub. Some important instructions for making a sound investment through a foreclosed property are to understand foreclosure rules, look through updated listings, choose a prime location, compare asking prices, appraise property and negotiate for a bargain deal.
Real Estate Investing Market in Future
By: Jeff Adams | 02/12/2009Real estate investing market values have achieved various highest levels in years, for both home and profitable properties. Yet, intelligence reports tout dangerously high vacancies in office space markets countrywide.
HOME LOAN RATES STABLE, SAY ANALYSTS
By: zameensapna | 02/12/2009Vikas Agarwal outlines some significant factors that indicate stability in home loan interest rates Home loan interest rates have come down quite significantly over the last one year as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cut the key policy rates (repo and reverse repo rates) and the cash reserve ratio (CRR).
Real Estate Articles
By: Pinki Gupta | 02/12/2009Do the owners of ICI World sell real estate? No. Much flip for the managing secretary of an independent type honest-to-goodness estate boost bureaus, we do not give real estate because it would be pointed a argument of interest.
Jumbo Mortgages Making a Comeback
By: Josh Sloan | 17/04/2009 | MortgageGuy Cecala, publisher of Inside Mortgage Finance claims that the Bank of America rates are lower than main competitors Wells Fargo, J.P. Morgan Chase and Citibank, and that it won't be long before others will be jumping on the bandwagon. He was right.
Street Gang Real Estate Fraud
By: Josh Sloan | 13/04/2009 | Real EstateThis elaborate con which ran from 2005 to 2008, defrauded over 70 lenders and involved the sale of 220 homes and mortgages with a total value in excess of $100 million. The Southern California homes targeted were located in Spring Valley, La Mesa and Encanto neighborhood of San Diego.
Top 5 Blackberry Apps for Realtors
By: Josh Sloan | 03/04/2009 | Business IdeasAre you owner of a “Crackberry” or are you considering adding this powerful little tool to your real estate arsenal? The BlackBerry is a SmartPhone that seems virtually designed for the busy broker, Realtor and agent, with plenty of customizable features and support for downloadable applications that can make your life a lot easier while you’re on the road.
What is a Comparative Market Analysis?
By: Josh Sloan | 24/03/2009 | Real EstateA CMA contains information about how much is being asked for homes on the market, prices of homes currently under contract but not sold yet, homes that have recently sold, and expired listings. All of the homes in a CMA should be reasonably close to the size, age, condition, amenities, upgrades, and location of your home. This information is then used to determine how much your home is likely to sell for in the current market.
Bonuses, Windfalls And Your Mortgage
By: Josh Sloan | 04/03/2009 | MortgageYour work bonus may help you buy a home. While some lenders might look at bonuses with a suspicious eye, there are provisions in the FHA for regularly received or earned bonuses. This can help you qualify for a mortgage that you otherwise might not be able to obtain.
Famous Hollywood TV Homes
By: Josh Sloan | 28/01/2009 | Real EstateHome of The Brady Bunch - 11222 Dilling St., North Hollywood CA This seemingly middle class North Hollywood home used in the 1969-1974 TV series is now worth about $1,182,500. It's 5 bedrooms, 3 baths and 2,477 square feet housed the two families that we know as The Brady Bunch.
10 Tips to Perk Up Your Yard for Sale
By: Josh Sloan | 26/01/2009 | Real EstateWhen I had my last home up for sale, I was outside gardening when someone drove up and asked me about the house. He proceeded to go home, collect his wife and family and bring them over for a complete inspection, and subsequently purchased our home. I believe this buyer's mind was made up before he toured the home. In a similar circumstance, I saw a picture of our current home on the internet and decided this was the house for me.
Coastal Gems in San Diego County
By: Josh Sloan | 26/01/2009 | Real EstateThe La Costa Resort and Spa is part of a massive residential community in Carlsbad that consists of two 18-hole golf courses, hotel, condominium units, 19 tennis courts, boutiques and fine dining.