Improve your property’s curb appeal

BY CHRISTOPHER JOYCE

The National Association of Realtors reports that curb appeal sells 49 percent of all houses. It starts with quality landscaping that enhances the style of the home. Landscaping doesn’t have to be expensive; only well-thought-out, interesting and cohesive. It doesn’t take much to make dramatic improvements, such as adding flower boxes, sprucing up the mailbox or constructing an elegant driveway.

A recent study estimated that good landscaping can add 7 percent to 15 percent to the eventual sale price of a home and, for the second year in a row, Realtors report that exterior remodeling projects return the most money as a percentage of cost. Well-chosen improvements can draw buyers into the home and add value. Both the facade and yard should say: “This house is loved.” The front of your property should be so alluring that a prospective buyer, driving by slowly, will actually want to stop, get out, look and then call the listing Realtor. That is curb appeal.

Curb appeal means Web appeal too. If a house doesn’t look good online, it won’t attract maximum buyers. You want to get showings, whether in person
or on the Internet. If people don’t like what they see, they stop right there. First impressions can be last impressions.

Curb appeal also lets the buyer feel more confident in the property. If the property looks like it needs improvement, then that perception alone will introduce unnecessary risk into the transaction.

Remember, there are a number of ways to enhance a home’s appearance, from smaller tasks such as weeding and mowing the lawn, to larger projects like an expanded living space. Here are some very easy and inexpensive tips:

• Prune trees and bushes to make sure the doors and windows are not obstructed
• Make sure your property is as clean and organized as possible
• New mulch on the property is a simple and attractive touch
• Plant some annuals and ground cover around trees
• Remove any tree limbs near or touching the roof
• Clear rain gutters and chimneys
• Kill mold on sidewalks, roof and patio
• Pressure wash siding, porches, sidewalks and decks
• Remove leaves and weeds; mow and edge lawn

Christopher Joyce is president of Joyce Landscaping Inc. in Marstons Mills. He can be reached at (508) 428-4772.

Published in Cape & Plymouth Business June 2010