10 Things You Can Do To Increase Curb Appeal

First impressions are always important, but most of the time we tend to place the curb appeal work near the bottom of our todo list -this is a mistake. Curb appeal of the house should start as soon as possible so you have time to get the work done right. The tips below should give you a good start.

1. Power spray the driveway, sidewalks, bricks, and any other item that could benefit from it.
2. Plant flowers, but don't plant too many. If you have a lot of flowers planted, a potential buyer may see the maintenance of the flowers as an added job if they buy the house.
3. Make sure the mailbox is straight, clean, no rust, flag works, etc. A crooked, ugly looking mailbox does not set a good tone for the rest of the house.
4. Make sure the street number for the house is large and visible from the road.
5. If your yard doesn't have a lot of grass, then get some planted or get new sod laid. It will look much better than bare spots.
6. Be sure the lawn is trimmed and edged. Grass and weeds growing across the edge of the driveway and sidewalks is a big no-no. Also, get rid of the grass and weeds growing though the cracks in the concrete.
7. More than likely, you cannot see the doorbell from the road, but it is one of the first things people notice when they are at the front door, so make an impression. Make sure the doorbell works perfectly -ding dong, not just ding. Spend a few dollars extra and install a doorbell that's a step above normal.
8. Overgrown bushes should be trimmed or removed if needed to accentuate the house. Don't cut down any trees unless it's totally necessary. Trimming a few branches is normally all that needs to be done.
9. Make sure all the gutters are clean, straight, and in good condition. All downspouts should be securely fastened.
10. The roof should be cleaned if there is any indication of mildew. Replace any shingles that are missing and tack down shingles that are not secure. If there are any wavy sections of the roof, call a roofer and get it repaired. Don't forget the appearance of the roof. It matters significantly when trying to increase curb appeal.

If you make sure the ten items listed above have been completed, a potential buyers first impression of the house will be significantly better. Don't just make a good impression, make a great impression. Set the tone for the rest of the house.