Michelle Bastien knows it from her vantage point as a seasonal associate at a Windsor, Ont., Home Depot.
But she's also a new homeowner, and she believes the seller could have commanded 20 per cent more for her house just by giving it some curb appeal.
With a degree in horticultural, Bastien could easily envision the potential in the rundown yard. Not everybody can, and that can keep a house on the market forever.
"I had to look at 14 houses to find mine," she says. "It's ridiculous how inexpensive and how little time it would have taken the owners to make them all look better."
Bastien says most people spend just 10 to 15 minutes viewing a house, and if it doesn't make a good first impression, there's no coming back.
So what do you do?
"Simply cutting the lawn can make a huge difference," she says. "Get rid of the overgrown weeds and work on the gardens."
It doesn't have to be fancy. Bastien built a garden in a couple of hours and it didn't cost a lot.
"A three-foot garden can make a great impression. Do what you can, even if it's nothing more than one focal plant and some inexpensive perennials that are a decent size. Do something to give it punch.
"And use some tropicals. If they last the winter, they last. If they don't, you've still got your money out of them."
Bastien says palm trees are perfect for this climate. You take them out of the ground and store them for the winter, then replant in the spring.
"It takes 10 minutes and lets you work something unique into the yard."
You can also create a beautiful space using container plants, urns, window boxes and interesting pots. The bonus is that you can take them with you when you move.
You want to show buyers how beautiful the property can be, but you also want to show them their new house can be environmentally friendly and energy-efficient.
Here are some other ways to increase the eco-friendly curb appeal:
Replace the dated porch fixture, the pitted mailbox and the broken doorbell.
If you can't put in new windows, spruce up the old. A $2 tube of caulking, some white paint and weatherstripping can make them look and function like new. And don't forget to wash the panes so they sparkle.
If you have a view you don't like or window panes that are etched, consider buying a product called Wallpaper for Windows. You can get everything from elaborate stained glass to a simple frost. The beauty is you just cut the film to fit and adhere it with a water-soap solution. If the new owners don't like it, they can peel it off.
Buy a new pre-hung, insulated steel front door for as little as $100. It will save up to 20 per cent in heating and cooling costs and give your house a fresh new look from the street.
Check out new tubular skylight domes that let you illuminate rooms on three floors.
Spruce up and save energy:
Use mulch instead of crushed stone or concrete around your house.
"It provides better drainage, and it cools gradually," says Bastien. Stones next to a house heat up quickly and stay that way. That means the air conditioner has to work harder.
Plant taller trees around the house, making sure not to obscure windows. You can reduce your energy costs by 10 to 15 per cent by not having the sun beat down on your home.
Make the best use of natural lighting. Bigger windows save money in the winter because the sun heats the interior. But make sure the windows are well-insulated and energy-rated, and consider treating them with a special tint to keep UV rays out in the summer.
In the garden, install tubed irrigation edging that hooks up to the hose. It's like an inexpensive sprinkler system that will conserve water and impress prospective buyers.
Use solar lighting in the garden. There are even solar flood lights that are bright enough to illuminate your yard.
How to increase the value inside:
Replace old light fixtures, especially in the kitchen and bath. Concentrate on those rooms, because they sell houses.
Upgrade appliances. You can get five of them for under $1,500, and you'll be energy efficient while adding 10 per cent to your asking price.
Fix leaky faucets. A small drip can cost you hundreds of dollars a year. Besides, if it screams "old," buyers will hear "costly reno."
Dress your windows with sheer panels, blinds or drapes. They can be inexpensive while insulating from the heat and cold, and they can make old windows look new.
Paint your rooms, especially the kitchen and bath, and use a latex paint with low VOC. It makes for a healthier house, and prospective buyers won't be assaulted by the smell.
For under $200 Bastien was able to carpet three rooms in her house by using remnants.
Consider laminate. It makes rooms look bigger and increases your value by 10 to 15 per cent.
-- Canwest News Service
