Pick up. There is nothing that will reduce your home’s curb appeal more quickly than trash and toys thrown around. Remove any junk piles or trash bins that are visible outside the house. If you’ve got kids, make sure the toys are all put away—this means those big plastic toys and play sets as well (or at least place them neatly in a designated area). Even if storage is a problem, put away bikes and other equipment you may have leaning against the house.

Clean up. Stand out by your sidewalk or street curb and take a long, hard look at the front of your house. Does it look clean and inviting, or dingy and unloved? It’s called curb appeal for a reason. Start with a thorough cleaning of your windows and front door area with a bucket of soapy water and a scrub brush. It’s amazing what a little hard work can do to neaten up your home’s exterior elements. Make the door hardware gleam and those windows sparkle. Since we mentioned windows, how do your curtains and blinds look from the outside of the house? Are your windows covered with knickknacks, stickers, and such? Take time to clean up the insides of your home’s window areas that are visible from the curb.

Paint. Is the paint peeling off the shutters or siding? Can you easily notice the front door? Paint is a wonderful thing. It can quickly bring any old object back to life, including shutters and trim on the outside of the house. For a relatively small investment, paint is one of the quickest ways to increase curb appeal. It’s important to do a good job when painting, however. Splotchy work will be immediately noticeable. If you’re not up to doing the painting yourself, consider hiring an expert to help. Also, choose neutral colors—this gives your house the best chance to sell.

Repair. Take time to repair missing siding, broken shutters, broken fence panels, and the like. Is your sidewalk in good condition? The path should be swept clean and cleared of obstacles that might trip someone on the way to the front door. Stare at your garage doors (if you have a garage). Is there a dent in the garage door from the time your teenager was learning to park the car? Does the garage door even work properly? Those things need fixing before you try to sell the house. Don’t forget the mailbox. Whether it’s on a post in the yard or up by the front door, make sure it’s painted or polished. Any numbers or letters on it should look neat and clean.

You can sell your home faster if you give your house lots of curb appeal. This is especially important during a down real estate market.

"Sell Your Home Faster by Adding Curb Appeal" was originally posted as a blog post at RREA.com on August 18, 2011.

© 2008-2011 | Register Real Estate Advisors | Spring Texas Real Estate

Among the report’s findings:

• The steel entry door replacement is the project that returned the most money, with an estimated 102.1 percent of cost recouped when the home is sold.
• The midrange garage door replacement is expected to recoup 83.9 percent of costs.
• Upscale fiber-cement siding replacement was deemed the most cost-effective among siding projects, recouping 80 percent of costs.
• Upscale vinyl window replacements were expected to recoup the most among window replacement projects, at 72.6 percent.
• Wood decks tied with a minor kitchen remodel for the fourth most profitable project, recouping an estimated 72.8 percent of costs.

Meanwhile, here’s what the study found inside the house:

• An attic bedroom addition costs more than $51,000 and recoups an estimated 72.2 percent.
• A basement remodel costs more than $64,000 and recoups an estimated 70 percent.
• Improvement projects that are expected to return the least are a midrange home office remodel, recouping an estimated 45.8 percent; a backup power generator, recouping 48.5 percent; and a sunroom addition, recouping 48.6 percent of costs.

In addition, the study found that Texas was among the regions that were consistently estimated to return a higher percentage of remodeling costs when a home is sold.

"Curb Appeal is King, NAR Study Finds" was originally posted as a blog post at RREA.com on January 15, 2011.

© 2008-2011 | Register Real Estate Advisors | Spring Texas Real Estate

Forget wiring your new home for audio, video, and data.  Pass on the upgraded kitchen cabinets.  If you want to add lasting value, opt for landscaping.  Done correctly, the addition of trees, shrubs, plants, walks, lighting and patios can increase the value of your property by 20 percent – almost instantaneously.  Real estate professionals have known this.  A study by Arbor National Mortgage in Uniondale, N.Y., found 84% of the agents quaried believe a house on a treed lot would fetch at least that much more than one on a lot without trees. 

Landscaping practically is an afterthought for most builders.  A growing number are waking up to the fact landscaping pays.  For starters, nicely landscaped houses add curb appeal.  For another, there’s money to be made in landscaping.  There’s no record of how much people spend planting stuff after they move in.  It’s typically the next thing they do after unpacking and hanging curtains or blinds. 

Which begs the question:  How much should you spend?  The Washington, D.C.-based Americn Society of Lanscape Architects (ASLA) suggests “invest” 5 to 10% of your home’s value.  That rule of thumb can be expensive, and the good thing is, you don’t have to do it all at once.

"Landscaping: Green turns to gold for homeowners" was originally posted as a blog post at RREA.com on November 2, 2009.

© 2008-2009 | Register Real Estate Advisors | Spring Texas Real Estate