How To Make Money on Your Home Even in a Down Market: Exteriors

"First impressions are everything" -- it's a phrase we hear frequently. This can apply to many situations but it is absolutely true when it comes to selling your home. A buyer today has unlimited choices of inventory when shopping for a home. A serious seller must do all they can to make their home stand out from the competition. One good way to do this is by making sure their home is visibly appealing from the street. This will take a little time and perhaps some money, but the efforts should pay off. This is part 2 of a 3-part series; part one explores landscaping, while part 3 explains the importance of preparing the interior of the house. My recommendations on how to make sure your home has the proper curb appeal are:

1. Clean. Clean. Clean. The buzz word in real estate is location, location, location. When you put your house up for sale, the buzz word is clean, clean, and clean. It is impossible for the property to be too clean. The only exception to this would be a fixer-up or as-is property.
2. Stand back from your house and look at what a prospective buyer will see. Anything that is broken, dirty, or unattractive in any way needs to be taken care of.
3. Clean the outside of your home if applicable. Most types of vinyl siding can be easily cleaned with a pressure washer, or your water hose.
4. Paint the outside of your house if applicable. Older style homes need to be painted. A fresh coat of paint can make even an older house look new again.
5. Paint and repair the trim work if needed. Often the trim work is what shows wear and tear first. Replacing a few rotten boards can give the house a taken-care-of appearance. If you paint, try to use the same color.

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6. Clean all windows and screens. Nothing improves the appearance of a house more than spotless, clean windows. Repair or replace broken screens.
7. Check all the doors. Make sure they all open easily and are clean.
8. Clean porches and patios. Make sure the front entrance is easily accessible and clear of all clutter. House numbers should be visible from the road. Repair broken door bells and replace burned-out porch lights.
9. Don't forget the garage. Depending upon the type of driveway you have, it might or might not be visible from the street. The area around the garage should be clean. The garage door opener and outside lights should work.
10. Mend fences if needed. Families with children and pets are likely to need a fence.
11. Check your gutters and down spouts. Clean out the leaves and make sure rain water is draining properly.
12. Check the roof. Replace any loose shingles and repair any leaks.
13. Any outside buildings, structures or pools need to be included in your cleaning. Though most people would not expect them to be as clean as the inside of your home, they should not be an eyesore or take away from the appearance of your property.

Following these easy steps will not guarantee that your home will sell, but it should improve the chances dramatically. Many buyers ride by a house before contacting an agent. If they don't like what the see, there is no reason to make the call. Make sure the real estate sign is visible, has the correct contact numbers and contains brochures if applicable. Though this is a difficult time for many, it is actually a very good time to buy a home.