Seven Easy Tips to Better Curb Appeal For Your Denver Home
Posted by Bruce Swedal on Friday, June 12th, 2009 at 4:18pm.Do you need to sell your Denver home quickly or just sell your Denver home? Maybe you just want to get on with your life and into your next home. Generating a quick sale is easier when you know a few of the tricks to give potential Denver home buyers a better impression of your home by improving its curb appeal. Even if you’re not selling it never hurts to spruce up the outside of your home with a bit of handy work and maintenance.
Where to start? Most want to start with the clean-up but Denver home-owners should start with the work that is going to either take the longest or make the most mess. You want to take care of these issues first so you can avoid having a mess while Denver home buyers are previewing your property.
Sidewalks and Driveways
Thoroughly inspect your sidewalks and driveway for any damages which need repair. If there is any damages home-owners in Denver should seriously consider taking on the expense of having them repaired. This could end up being one of the most expensive tasks in your list, but it is also sure to instantly increase your homes curb appeal. This is an item that every potential home buyer seeing your property will ask themselves “How much will this cost us?” and lower any offer by at least that amount. Sellers who make these repairs themselves will be able to avoid buyers asking this question and lowering their bid. They will also not exclude potential buyers who either don’t want to bother with the repair or don’t have the capital to make the repairs themselves.
Fencing
Most homes in the Denver metro area will include some kind of fence. If that is the case, taking care of any needed fence repairs or maintenance is equally as important as sidewalk and driveway repair. One nice thing about repairs to the fence is they should cost substantially less than the driveway. After metro Denver home buyers pay a large sum of money for the home purchase, the last thing they want to do is shell out additional money for fence repairs. In most cases you will not have to go as far as replacing the entire fence but can simply repair any damages.
Landscaping: Shrubs and Lawns
The idea behind landscaping is to enhance the curb appeal not hide the assets of the property. The landscaping should add color through flowers and bushes to brighten and accent the areas around your home. Make sure to select your plants, shrubs and trees carefully so they complement the areas and do not look out of place. Make sure that the landscaping does not hide any doorways, block views from windows or make walking pathways tricky.
Maintaining your landscape is just as important as planting it, so make sure to trim the shrubs and mow the grass. Take care of any bare spots with sod or seed and edge the lawn for a more crisp appearance. Any trash or debris should be removed from the yard and disposed of.
Shrubbery should be trimmed to a clean look and manageable size and any dead tree branches should be removed and discarded. Plants which show signs of disease should be treated by professionals or removed and replaced.
The Garage
The first thing to do when cleaning a garage is to identify anything you will not be moving with you and get rid of it. Thoroughly sweep out the garage and check the corners for any cobwebs which need removing. You might also consider going with the trend and covering the floor with a garage coating. If you have any issues with bugs take the time to use an insecticide in the garage area. Lastly you should inspect the garage door for any needed repairs and wash or paint it as needed.
Exterior Windows and Doors
That front door is the potential entryway to your Denver home buyers nirvana and should be treated accordingly. Scrub it down, paint it up and if need be send it to the scrap heap and replace it. Ensure that you have a properly functioning doorbell, replace any hardware that is looking worn. You don’t want home buyers cringing when they open your door as it makes a sound like nails on a chalkboard so oil those hinges. Repair any broken or cracked glass or torn screens. Do this throughout the home.
Don’t forget about the windows! Completely clean the windows, including the screens, frame and tracks. Look for any broken or cracked glass or torn screens and make the needed repairs. If the paint is looking dull or dirty, take care of that by giving it a new coat. Don’t forget about the window coverings. Look at them from the inside and outside. If they look dirty, clean them. If washing them does not do it then replace them.
Cleaning
There is a method to cleaning. Cleaning your Denver home should include taking the time to remove any debris, put away any tools and don’t leave toys laying around. If you have a dog house, outbuildings or any other exterior features or structures give them a thorough examination. Clean everything you can, paint everything that needs it and inspect that mailbox while you’re at it.
Sprucing Up
Now that you put in the time you think all the difficult chores are over. Not so fast! Now is the time for a bit of sprucing up or you might call it accessorizing. Is there anything missing to get that nice finished look? How about some flowers or a window box to give potential buyers something for their senses as they walk up the path?
A small investment in improving curb appeal can mean thousands back when selling and most importantly it can be what tips the scale in a potential Denver home buyers mind to choose your home. A home that looks well maintained gives the impression to home buyers that it was well cared for. No Denver home buyer dreams of paying a large sum of money to purchase a home only to have to make numerous repairs to right away. So when you want to sell your home quickly, take the steps needed to make it stand out from the curb.
Bruce Swedal
Licensed Colorado Realtor
Contact Me
Denver Real Estate
Related Links
Blog Tags
Print
ShareBe the first to comment on this blog entry!