If you're thinking of putting your home on the market in the coming weeks, one area you will probably have to address is your curb appeal. The front of your house is the first thing potential buyers see when they pull up to your home.
Here's some inexpensive home staging tips to up your curb appeal:
- Clean up the yard - Get rid of gnomes, toys, gardening tools, trash cans and your "project" up on blocks. Cost = $0
- Really clean up the yard - Rake up leaves, grass clippings, dead branches. Cost =$0
- Trim back bushes from the front of the house - Trim bushes to no higher than the window sill. If there is a tall bush that can't be trimmed lower, trim out a lot of the inner branches giving it a "lacy" look (This is called "lacing") Cost = $0
- Power wash the siding, eaves, front porch, steps, walkway and driveway. Power washers can be rented for under $100 at many rent-a-tool places. Cost = less than $100
- Wash the windows - make them sparkling clean. This will have a huge impact on how the house looks both inside and out. You can use recycled newspapers and common household vinegar Cost = less than $5
- Plant some colorful flowers along the walk to the house and along the front of the house if you have existing beds. If you don't have flower beds and can't create some, then buy a few "color bowls" and place them on the stairs or by the front door. Cost = about $10-$15/pre-planted bowl or about $10 if you plant your own.
- Cover bare dirt in planting beds with bark mulch. Don't use the red mulch unless you want to make your home look like it belongs in a trailer park. Use redwood, cedar or pine needle mulch as they all do not encourage bugs. Do not use coco mulch as dogs are attracted to it and it can cause death if ingested. Cost = $3-$6/bag
- Fertilize your flower beds and lawn - Use a quick acting weed and feed on your lawn and water it in good to green things up fast. Fertilize your roses & flowering plants. It will take a couple of weeks before you start to see results, so get started before you list your house. Cost = under $100
I was at Lowes recently, and snapped a couple of photos of some of their yard and curb appeal offerings:
Iceburg roses are very low maintenance & bloom almost all year in Los Angeles
Inexpensive colorful pots of flowers dress up any door or front porch
So gussy up the front of your house. You've got important guests coming - home buyers!
If you are preparing your home for sale in Pasadena, San Marino, Arcadia or Los Angeles and need help with your curb appeal, contact us at Moving Mountains Design (626(441-8975. We know what makes homes sell! (trademark applied for)
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2010 RESA Professional Stager of the Year
Michelle has staged hundreds of Los Angeles homes, many of which have sold with multiple offers, above listing price.
She works with home sellers, listing agents and asset managers to prepare homes for sale throughout Los Angeles.
Moving Mountains Design provides vacant home staging, occupied home staging, color consultations, corporate and executive relocations, move organization, redesign, and interior design. We also stage model homes, REOs,foreclosures and auction properties for real estate investors and asset managers.
For more information about our Los Angeles home staging services, contact Michelle at (626)385-8852 or by email.
Click here to see our Los Angeles home staging portfolio
Click here to go to our Los Angeles home staging blog
Click here for more information about home staging in Los Angeles and how we can help sell your home faster and for the best price
Edging the yard is class. It doesn't matter whether it's a hovel or a palace. Edging shows the homeowner cares.
THank you for the good information today. I'll tell my sellers!
Patricia/Seacoast NH
Michelle - Sounds like common sense but not everyone thinks of the outside of their home.
THank you for the good information today. I'll tell my sellers!
Patricia/Seacoast NH
David: You are absolutely correct, I forgot to add edging the yard. It makes a big difference.
You're welcome, Patricia. I hope it helps whip them into shape:o)
Susan: Many home sellers are so wrapped up with making the inside look pretty that they neglect the outside. The inside is very important, but they won't bother to see the inside if the outside isn't appealing.
Great tips -- curb appeal can be everything.
I went to the nursery last night, they have so many new beautiful plants out now with so much color, I love it for curb appeal!
Michelle,
Congrats on your RESA award!!! And you are right-curb appeal is soooo important and doesn't have to break the bank.
Marianne
So true, Kathy.
Cindy: This is a great time of year in terms of curb appeal. Garden centers everywhere are bursting with colorful plants that won't break the bank.
Thank you Marianne!
Michelle- I especially like the hint of trimming the inner branches of a larger bush/tree to give it a lacing look. Things grow so quickly here in South Florida we're always having to trim and keep trimming.