Curb Appeal

First Impressions

Good curb appeal is a major plus when we market a home. A little bit of work on the front of your home in the Overland Park area can pay big dividends.

When a potential buyer pulls up in front of your house, their first impression is absolutely crucial. Sometimes buyers won't even look at a home with droopy shutters, sagging gutters, peeling paint and a bumper crop of dandelions in the front yard. Or they might go in expecting to find a "fixer-upper" that could be purchased at a bargain price. If a house looks neat and cared for from the street, the initial good impression will carry over as the buyers step inside.

It is not necessary to hire a professional landscaper, but listen to your Realtor's suggestions when you list your home. Local nurseries can help you select blooming plants that will thrive in your area. Keep the lawn mowed, and regardless of the season, take care of exterior maintenance. Strong curb appeal will help your home sell more quickly and for top dollar.

First Impressions

First impressions count! Do you remember your first impressions of your present home? What made you want to buy it? The features or amenities that first impressed you are probably the same ones that will sell your home.

Prospective buyers' first impression of your home is the feeling they get when approaching your property. Each home has its own unique features--trees and shrubs which soften structural lines, unusual architectural features, such as bay windows, or a beautifully landscaped entrance. Whether your home is modern or elegant traditional, the approach to your home makes a statement.

Since most buyers are looking for a home that has both charm and class, it pays to keep your grounds well-maintained and attractive. If the exterior appearance of your home and yard is pleasing, buyers will want to see the interior.

Fixing To Sell

Many homeowners wait until they are ready to put their home on the market before painting, planting flowers, and making other improvements to their homes. After completing these improvements, they may wish that they had done all of this work on their homes sooner in order to enjoy the improvements.

Whether you have recently purchased a home or have been settled into your home for several years, you should consider going through your house as if you planned to sell it soon. Maximize your "curb appeal" now, so that you will reap the benefits every time you pull into your driveway. Plant those flowers and bulbs so you will have your fresh flowers on your own dining room table. Add new window treatments now. If your house needs a new kitchen, go ahead with the renovation to create a beautiful and functional kitchen. You will not only enhance your whole neighborhood, but you will enjoy the benefits and joys of living in a beautiful home.

Grooming Your Yard

Does your yard have a freshly-painted fence, a smooth, green lawn and a well-trimmed hedge? A well-groomed yard is one of the most important indicators of proud ownership. Neighborhood pride can pay impressive dividends to homeowners.

Even if you don't plan to move right away, a well-groomed yard could help your neighbors sell their home. Yard work and gardening can be relaxing and rewarding hobbies that can pay off in beautiful flowers--and higher property values.

If everyone does their share to make the neighborhood look terrific, the demand for homes like yours will increase among prospective buyers, and nearby homes will also sell for top dollar. When you are ready to sell or refinance, the comparable homes in your neighborhood will support a higher price for your home.

I Want That One!

Good curb appeal is a major plus when we market a home. A little bit of work on the front of your home in the Overland Park area can pay big dividends.

When a potential buyer pulls up in front of your house, their first impression is absolutely crucial. Sometimes buyers won't even look at a home with droopy shutters, sagging gutters, peeling paint and a bumper crop of dandelions in the front yard. Or they might go in expecting to find a "fixer-upper" that could be purchased at a bargain price. If a house looks neat and cared for from the street, the initial good impression will carry over as the buyers step inside. Listen to your Realtor's suggestions about the front yard when you list your home. Keep the lawn mowed and plant some flowers. Regardless of the season, take care of exterior maintenance. Strong curb appeal will help your home sell more quickly and for top dollar.

Land Lovers

Great curb appeal goes a long way toward attracting buyers to a home that's for sale. Many of our sales have been generated by a "For Sale" sign in front of a home because buyers who admire a home's exterior often prove to be our most valuable prospects.

An investment in attractive landscaping can help your home sell more quickly. If you have a moderately green thumb, you can get a lot of free advice from local nurseries. They can give you tips on what will look good in your yard, considering the time of year, the available light, and the type of plants that do well in the area. You will probably be able to choose from many attractive low-maintenance plants that will addcolor and vitality to your yard.

Whatever the season, a few dollars invested in your front yard will usually reap much greater benefits than your original investment.

Landscaping

Many people wait until they are about to sell their home before they put energy and attention into improving the landscaping. Then they often get desperate and call in a professional landscaper, spending a lot of money to create great curb appeal for the next owners to enjoy.

Why wait until you are ready to move to enhance your surroundings? Even if you don't want to take on a major project, you can plant a few bushes and bulbs each year. You can get plants that bloom at different times of the year, many of which don't need a tremendous amount of care.

There are several benefits to this approach. You are be able to enjoy your improvements yourself, and you will profit more from your sale if you haven't invested a lot of money in your yard right before the transaction. Well-landscaped lawns tend to increase the real estate values in the whole neighborhood, and can result in a more rapid increase in the equity you have in your home!

Landscaping Your Home

Many buyers call our office for information on a home after reading an appealing description of the property. The exterior of your house and the yard will create the first impression for prospective buyers when they drive up to your house. Spending money on landscaping can bring you excellent returns when you sell your home.
You don't have to spend a fortune or develop an elaborate landscaping plan to make your front yard look terrific. If the yard is neatly mowed and trimmed and there are colorful plants blooming, the outside appearance of your home in the Overland Park area will make a good impression. A good nursery can help you select plants that will grow well and require minimal care. If you are planning any permanent changes or additions to your property, ask for advice from your Realtor.

Preparing For Sale

Realtors sometimes receive calls from people who are asking for advice on what they should do to prepare their house in the Overland Park area for the market. They may have settled for living in a "less than optimal" circumstance for years, and are now going to spend money to make it nice for someone else to enjoy.
If you are considering painting, updating the kitchen, landscaping, or any other improvements that would increase your home's re-sale value, think about making those improvements while you are still there to enjoy them. Create your own dream kitchen or Jacuzzi, your garden deck, or restore your wood floors now. Maintaining your property well will make your home more enjoyable, will help maintain the property values in your neighborhood, and will expedite the sale of your home when you are ready for a move.

Selling Tips

Sometimes Realtors walk into a home that is basically attractive, but lacks something that they can't quite put their fingers on. Then they notice that all of the drapes are closed, and there is a lot of overgrown shrubbery blocking the sun.

A dark house is not as appealing to most buyers as one that is flooded with light. As a part of your preparations to market your home, try to maximize the light in your home. Make sure that all the windows are clean, and open the drapes when the house is being shown. A fresh coat of light paint can do a lot to brighten up the interior. If your house has very dark paneling, and there is not a lot that you can do about it, you may want to consider adding additional lamps. Your Realtor may be able to provide other simple and cost-effective ideas about how to maximize your home's appeal.