LONG before a buyer signs on the line to purchase your home, you need to get them to come in the front door. The last thing you want is for them to take one look at the front of your home and drive straight on by.
It need not take much to turn a tired garden or front yard into a welcoming space that makes your home stand out from the listings crowd.
"Things like changing the house numbers, the external lighting, the mailbox -- those types of things can really make a significant impact," says Frank Turco, senior manager of trend and design at Home Depot.
Then there's the garden itself.
It's not difficult to figure out where the work is needed. Try cutting back your shrubs and trees to allow sunlight to penetrate the windows, making sure no tree branches are rubbing against your roof or the side of your house, cutting your grass and edging the lawn for a tidier look.
Put some potted flowers around the entrance. Get rid of all those spider webs that have dead little bugs in them. Clean your windows and paint the trim around the front door and windows. That will make a huge difference.
More extensive work on the garden needs careful consideration.
Conservatively, landscaping can add 11 to 12 per cent to the value of the home, but you have to consider the quality of the landscaping and the maintenance. An immaculate yard with extensive and elaborate landscaping might actually scare potential buyers away. They may be unwilling or unable to take care of it, and don't want to pay someone to look after it.
Making what you have look great is key.
"If you've got tired-looking siding or bricks that are aging, get out a power washer; you can even rent one," says Turco. "Give (everything) a good spraying; clean your windows. Cleaning is just one of those things that gives a whole new look and feel to any space, whether it be inside or outside."
As with a backyard garden, a balcony can make one condo stand out from another. If you've got a balcony and you put down some nice wood flooring, a nice little patio set out there and a couple of plants, it looks inviting -- it looks like somewhere you'd want to spend some time.
Bring the outdoors in by putting balcony boxes overflowing with flowers and vines, maybe some scented flowers or even herbs so that, if they do go out, you've got a nice pretty smell, Having a balcony just implicitly increases the value anyway, because there's a bit of outdoor space.
-- Postmedia News
