Sorry, but there’s no second chance to make a first impression. Whether cruising the web to view online photos from across the country or cruising by your home in the family SUV on a Sunday afternoon outing, home shoppers will decide at a glance whether they want to see more. So, consider what a potential home buyer might think as he or she drives up to your property for the first time. You’ve probably seen the “We buy ugly houses” signs nailed to utility poles. Rehabbers look for ugly houses so that they can pay the least amount possible and “flip” the houses for a quick profit. However, true home buyers —people looking for a home in which to live —are not lured by ugliness and “bargain basement” prices. Creating curb appeal is essential to attracting interest in your home from serious buyers. How your home looks from the road is so persuasive that a well-prepared house may catch the attention of buyers who did not find the written description particularly compelling. Conversely, a neglected house can cause a buyer previously excited by a printed or online marketing listing to cruise right on by.
SEEING YOUR HOME THROUGH FRESH EYES
Try this. Go out into your street and look—I mean really look—at your home and see if you can spot any imperfections. Is it appealing, pristine, and well-kept, or are there necessary repairs that you have been putting off? After you’ve lived in a home for a long while, you’re not likely to
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