Porch Furniture and Outdoor Décor Factor into Curb Appeal
Jun 24th, 2010 by Kathy
In most areas of the country, this is considered to be the best time of the year for selling homes. In fact, unless they have urgent reasons for doing so, many people won’t dare to put theirs on the market when the weather is cold.
The general feeling is that houses look a lot friendlier when the sun is shining, the sky is blue, the trees and grass are green, and flowers are in bloom. Patio furniture is also a factor, because, in the winter, it is either stored away, or hidden under outdoor furniture covers. Undoubtedly, a porch swing, some comfortable patio chairs, and a pitcher of lemonade on an outdoor coffee table, make a much more inviting tableau.
On the other hand, every season has its drawbacks; and, in summer, one of the biggest is that the fast-growing vegetation can quickly get out of control, making your home look unkempt. Therefore, it can be a struggle to maintain “curb appeal,” the term that refers to the desirability of a home, when viewed by passersby, especially prospective buyers.
Indeed, this first impression can influence a person’s decision about whether or not to even bother taking a tour of the house. Moreover, many realtors say that the landscape is so important that, if it looks shabby, some people won’t even get out of their cars.
Of course, even if you’re not selling your home, it’s a good idea to keep it in (or close to) showcase condition at all times. For starters, practice regular maintenance, and you’ll catch minor problems that can be inexpensively repaired, rather than letting them sneak up on you and become major headaches that you may have to pay professionals to fix.
These things can take us by surprise, because we’re so used to seeing our homes and yards, that slight changes often go unnoticed. They can be anything, from vines that are trimmed one day, and strangling roses the next, to a minuscule spot of mold that doesn’t draw attention until it destroys an entire wall.
To evaluate your own home’s curb appeal, try looking at it through the eyes of a potential buyer. Every so often, park across the street, and approach it, as if for the first time, taking in every detail. Start from the actual curb, and check to see if your parking spots, driveway, and walkways are free of debris.
Look at your mailbox. If it’s battered or rusty, replace it with a nice, decorative mailbox; and get a new mailbox post, too, if yours is dilapidated or splintered. Glance around and make sure that the greenery is perfectly manicured, and that your outdoor décor items, such as birdfeeders, planters, porch furniture, and outdoor lamps and lanterns, are clean and attractive.
Whether or not you’re going to be selling it, this exercise is a good way to, at least, get an idea of where your house stands. I mean, appeal-wise, of course. Obviously, you know where it stands, or you’d always be getting lost. Well, you know what I mean!
Yours Outdoors,
Kathy
