Spring is Coming. Are you Ready?

Are you in your yard right now feeling the sun on your face listening to the birds chirping and watching the buds emerge from the ground while reading a book from the hammock tied to your two favorite oak trees?  NOT!  It's still freezing, the buds are covered by snow, and next week the high temp on Monday is 40.  Ugh.  The delayed joys of spring might be getting you down but it's no excuse for waiting to create a spring maintenance to-do list which will up the "curb appeal" of your home whether you are thinking of selling it or not.  It's always a good idea to perform exterior maintenance tasks in the spring but it's imperative to do so when you are contemplating selling your home.

Did you know that according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 63% of buyers stop by a house after viewing it on-line?  What is the first thing buyers notice?  The exterior of the home of course.  Also known as "curb appeal", the look of the exterior contributes to 49% of all home sales, also according to NAR.  It is essential for sellers in this market to distinguish their homes from other homes in the same price range.  Spring signals the re-birth of the real estate market after a long dreary winter so be ready with these handy tips to spruce up your curb appeal and SELL YOUR HOUSE!

1. CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN!  It sounds obvious but many homeowners don't do enough of it prior to listing their biggest asset.  Nowhere is this more apparent than the exterior of a home.  Power washing is a great way to clean decks, faded walkways, oil covered driveways and siding.  If you don't have a power washer you can rent one inexpensively from Home Depot.  Pick up the kids bikes, toys, lawn tools, etc. and store them in the garage or shed.  Make sure trash and recyclable cans are not overflowing and they are stored in the garage if you have one.  Clutter around the outside of the home suggests to buyers that the homeowner doesn't care about the home and that the inside will likely be a mess also.
2. FLOWERBEDS AND MULCH.  A fresh coating of mulch always adds impact to the yard.  Bags of mulch go on sale at places like Home Depot, Lowes, and Ace Hardware so keep an eye out.  Inexpensive small bushes and perennial plants can be purchased cheaply at Costco and Wal-Mart to replace plants that didn't make it through the winter.
3. ANNUAL PLANTS.  Plant bright flowers in containers along the front walkway and on the front steps to add interest.  Annual flowering plants are the cheapest way to add some "WOW".
   
4. LOOK UP!  Most people don't look to the top of their house before they list it.  Clean out gutters overflowing with leaves or those that are home to small plants (I have personal experience with this unfortunately LOL).  Is the roof dirty and have missing shingles?  A clean roof really brightens up the whole house.
   
5. PAINT THE FRONT DOOR.  A clean, newly painted front door ( and if you have them, shutters) will make a big impact on a buyer.  Bored with white?  Try a bright color.  It will help your house stand out.