The place to start is, of course, at the curb. Here’s a checklist of curb appeal items to take into consideration prior to listing your home for sale.  Many involve inexpensive and straightforward fixes you or your landscaping person can undertake, now that temperate fall weather is here.

6 ways to spruce up the yard

Rake those leaves

In fall, this can be a daily requirement to keep your property looking visitor ready.

Trim the shrubs

Among the fastest ways to create a horrible first impression is to let shrubbery obscure the entry and hang over the front walk like the ghost of Halloween past. I can help you figure out how to use shrubs to showcase your entry instead of hiding it.

Mow and edge

Reasonably or not, tidiness conveys the impression that you take extra good care of your entire property. So, ban the kids’ toys until the property sells, and plan to keep your yard hospital neat.

You’ll need to make a plant to keep this yard maintenance program going until the leaves quit falling, and the grass is dormant.  If it snows shoveling the walks and driveway will be essential.

Add finishing touches

Finally, while the weather holds, its a great time to take advantage of the opportunity to:

• Reseed bare spots in the lawn
• Revive planters with seasonal color
• Replant and mulch the flower beds

4 ways to communicate ‘this is a well-maintained home’

Clear the gutters

Better yet, have gutter guards installed before leaves start to drop. And clear tree branches off the roof when the leaves are gone.

Touch up peeling paint

Nothing makes a house look shabbier than patches of bare wood surrounded by deteriorating paint. And it’s so easy to fix.

Rejuvenate the fences

Good fences make good neighbors — and an excellent first impression. Leaning, decaying fences? Not so much. If you can’t afford to replace a fence that’s seen better days, you (or your handyperson) can at least prop it up and power-wash/stain it.

Refresh the mailbox

Sellers tend to overlook practical items like the mailbox, which is the first thing buyers likely see. Generally, installing a new box (with house numbers!) is the easiest, fastest way to refresh this area without calling undue attention.

However, if it’s a prominent fixture, it’s best to install something in keeping with the home’s architecture and landscape the area, so it fits with the overall planting scheme.

2 ways to make it easy to find the property address

Its important to draw attention to your address, so buyers & agents are confident they’re in the right spot. Freshen paint on numerals stenciled on the curb. Larger numbers, where architecturally appropriate, do their job artfully — especially if you spotlight them.

Create an entry that wows in 3 easy steps

Amp up the hardscape

A vast expanse of driveway greets buyers driving up to most homes. Often, a path takes off from the driveway toward the front entry. But the residents rarely use it. 

You can immediately improve their curb appeal by power-washing all that concrete power and dressing up the path. Staining the concrete, lining the walkway with low hedges or other plantings, or installing stone or brick borders are all ways to quickly elevate the importance of the path the home’s buyers will be treading, whether you use it or not.

Spruce up the entry

Evaluate everything from the porch light, doormat, seating and plants to the front door and its hardware. At minimum, everything needs to be cleaned or replaced. Make sure that the lock works and that the doorknob looks like a medic just signed off on its cleanliness. 

Every window needs to sparkle, especially those at the entry. Replace every lightbulb near the entrance because the lower light of fall and winter often requires turning on the lights to welcome visitors on gloomy days. And they will burn out at the worst possible moment if they aren’t brand new.

Install decorative lighting

Restraint is essential where decorative lighting is concerned. But, done well, a pair of lighted evergreens flanking the front door, a candlelit lantern on a porch step, or a lighted seasonal wreath can extend a warm welcome right out to the street. 

I work with you to help maximize the home’s lighting as the days get shorter.

I am a fan of checklists as you’re less apt to forget a critical piece of the curb appeal puzzle if you’re using one. 

Let me know how I can assit you in preparing your home or the fall and winter selleing season!