First Impressions: Get Instant Curb Appeal With These 10 Must-Dos

By Christine Rae, Staging Expert

The Internet is the first source for viewing a property for most buyers, even before talking to a real estate professional. That means curb appeal is important because they are “driving by” the listing, and you don’t know it.

Here are 10 things to consider when assessing the curb appeal of your listing:

1. Pressure wash siding, decks, and walkways.

2. Clean windows and gutters, and check downspouts.

3. Check the growth of trees and bushes–ensure they don’t block light from any window.

4. Kill any mold or mildew around the property. Read more

The Yard Doctor is Ready to Triage Your Lawn With These 6 Tips for Fall

By Erica Christoffer, Contributing Editor, REALTOR® Magazine

There is no better time than fall to get yards looking great, according to the “Yard Doctor” Trey Rogers, a professor of turfgrass management in the crop and soil sciences department at Michigan State University.

Here are 6 tips from Rogers to help you and your clients take advantage of the seasonal weather and vibrant colors to add dramatic curb appeal.

1. For home owners in the northern portion of the United States, fall is the single best time to fertilize a yard. During the first 10 days of September, lay a complete nitrogen and potassium combination fertilizer.

2. Fall is also the best time to reseed grass. If you have bare spots from the summer, put down a seed mix that matches the yard during the first 15 days of September. Yards with crabgrass will notice the patches turn purple with the first frost.  It is important to thoroughly seed and water those areas. Read more

Try These 10 Tips for Boosting Curb Appeal

By Phyllis Harb, Dickson Podley REALTORS®

1. Trim shrubs and trees in the front yard; a homebuyer should be able to see your home’s architectural features (such as that beautiful picture window). Tidy up your yard; put away hoses, trash cans, etc.

2. Remove the screen door (if any), dress up the front porch with a plant (if there’s room), and wash your windows and your screens.

3. If the mailbox is visible from the curb, ensure that it is attractive.

4. Repaint any peeling trim or exterior paint. Read more

How to Deal With the ‘Neighbor From Hell’

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey

A messy neighbor can hamper your property–by as much as 20 percent off the market value, says Sid Davis, author of A Survival Guide to Selling a Home (AMACOM, 2005), who is also a real estate broker.

No one wants to live next to the neighbor with the overgrown yard, broken stair railings, littered yard, and completely neglected property.

So what should you do if you find that your property is living next to the “neighbor from hell?”

A recent Universal Press Syndicate article by Ellen James Martin provides tips from Davis on how to resolve the problem amicably.  Read more

From an Architect: 6 Affordable Ways to Make Your Listings More Attractive

By David Applebaum

In this market, selling a house can be more challenging than ever. As a real estate professional, I’m sure you have used many ideas to help make your property look its most attractive to potential buyers. As an architect for two decades, I have suggestions and tips to maximize your potential in selling the home.

Every house and every property is different, and I recognize that a “walk through” can inspire specific ideas for each property. But here are some universal suggestions that will make any house look more appealing for sale.

1.    Clean everything. Eliminate damaged and soiled items, get rid of half of the furniture and rearrange the other half, and remove any personal items. It is important to give the buyers the ability to see themselves in the property.

2.    Accent lighting. This can help make the home more attractive and accentuate the positives by highlighting the homes attributes and diminish the negatives of any setting. The key is to realize that you are playing with contrasts.

Some other lighting tips:

• A light along fabulous furnishings, an architectural element, or detail will show that element off.
• A light behind an object will frame the object in darkness and bathe what is behind it in a wash of light.
• Use highlight and contrast to make a room feel longer, higher, or warmer. Read more