The old saying goes "you
can't judge a book by its cover". But when it comes to houses,
the exterior can be just as important as the interior if selling
or buying.
When selling, it is the home's
outside appearance, or curb appeal that often determines whether
the inside is ever seen. How a house "shows" from the
street can tell a potential buyer a lot about what it may be like
inside. Even if the inside is the dream home they've been searching
for, buyers will not forget the cracked driveway or the overgrown
grass and flowerbeds. This is why most realtors recommend that
a house not be seen for the first time at night. If you have no
choice but to view homes in the evening, always be sure to drive
past them during the daytime before making any final decisions.
For sellers, there are many ways
to enhance the exterior of a home to achieve the curb appeal necessary
to attract prospective buyers. Start by taking an objective look
at your home from the curb. Be sure to view it from different
angles. Ask friends and neighbours for their unbiased opinions.
What are the appealing features? What's not so appealing? What
can you do to improve its appearance? Here are some tips for making
the outside of your home attractive and inviting.
Clean Up the Yard
Mow the lawn, trim the hedges, weed the flower
beds and get rid of dead trees and shrubs. Remove any broken lawn
furniture, shovel the walk and driveway in the winter and rake
the yard in the fall.
Repair Any Problems
If the roof is damaged, repair it. Also repair
any doors and windows that have loose hinges or other damage,
fix storm doors and window screens, caulk window exteriors, clean
and repair siding and fix any other structural flaws (such as
loose railings).
Eliminate Clutter
If you have yard and construction debris piled
up along the side of the house, or elsewhere, get rid of it. The
exterior of your home should be as uncluttered as possible. This
includes cleaning out the garage (a major breeder of clutter).
Be ruthless. If you haven't used something in a year, give it
to charity or recycle it.
Give Siding a Fresh New Look
Cleaning the exterior surface of your home
may be all it needs for a fresh new look. Before rushing to paint
siding, try washing it. For painted wood siding and aluminum siding,
use a solution of one cup of strong detergent and one quart chlorine
bleach in three gallons of water (be sure to wear rubber gloves,
goggles and other protective garments). Work from the bottom up
and rinse thoroughly. Vinyl siding can be sponged with a mild
liquid detergent and rinsed.
Use Paint to Brighten or Reproportion the Exterior
A paint job can do wonders for the exterior
of a home. A low house can look more tall from the curb by emphasizing
its vertical features. Paint elements such as doors, shutters
and corner trim in a colour that contrasts with the siding or
stucco. On a high home, emphasize the horizontal by using a contrasting
paint colour on window sills and fascia boards. You can also make
a tall house look lower by painting it a dark colour. Conversely,
a light colour will make a home look larger.
Coordinate the Exterior Look
The more coordinated your house looks from
the outside, the more appealing it will be. Coordinate the look
of your home by painting the garage, tool shed or other outdoor
structures the same colour schemes as the house.
Use Flower Power
Well placed flowers, trees and shrubs can
really make the outside of a home look inviting. Not only does
attractive landscaping invite buyers, it can increase the value
of a home. Even without major landscaping, flowers can make a
yard look colourful and pleasant. Plant them in garden beds, hang
them from railings and porch ceilings or add flower boxes to window
sills. At night, highlight garden features with spotlights and
floodlights. Well-lit paths and entrances promote safety and are
an added feature to any home. A pretty wreath on the door and
a welcome mat will finish things off. Creating curb appeal is
making your home inviting to prospective buyers from the outside
- where first impressions begin. This doesn't mean spending a
great deal of money remodelling and renovating. With a little
creativity and some effort, your home can become a buyer's dream
home.
Prepared by the Alberta Real
Estate Association
