As a REALTOR® in Denver, I see many homes throughout the Denver metro area all of the time as I have been very busy with home buyers. Lately I have been to homes in varying price ranges and in different areas and neighborhoods. My car has taken us through Highlands Ranch, Parker, Englewood, Greenwood Village, Castle Pines North, and Centennial in just the last 10 days or so. The price range has varied from buyer to buyer from around $320,000 to just under $1,000,000.
For the most part, with some exceptions, the homes when you walk in the door are in stellar shape. They have been cleaned from top to bottom and most would certainly pass the white glove test. Most of them show beautifully. But lately I have seen something across the board – even in one of the higher end properties. Lack of curb appeal. Not even lack of, but negative curb appeal. I know its getting hot and it gets harder to keep the grass green in the Colorado heat. My own yard is needing some TLC – but I am not selling my home.
Here are some tips.
1. You have to figure out a watering pattern that is going to work for you and keep you within watering guidelines as well. Denver Home Buyers do not want to buy a home with dead grass. If its getting brown already, don’t give up, you can bring it back. Grass can be resilient unless you let it go too long. And if need be, bring out a professional to have your sprinklers adjusted. If they are missing spots, they can help you correct that.
2. If you haven’t sprayed or pulled weeds, especially the dandelions, do it now. They are starting to take over in many cases.
3. A potted annual for about $15 at your doorstep could really help make things a bit cheerier – but only if you are going to water it. I have already seen a few dead ones.
4. Filthy doors or door knobs? Wipe them down. I think I saw pink frosting from little fingers on one this week.
5. Cobwebs on the outside of the house, take care of them.
6. Bird droppings on the windows? Get them washed.
7. Dead tree in the yard. Get rid of it.
Curb appeal is the first impression of your home. It is where the emotion of the buyers begin. If they have a positive vibe as they walk in that front door, that is a good thing. No vibe, or worse yet a negative one – not so great.
And here is something else to consider – a bonus tip if you will. Curb appeal doesn’t start at your doorstep. More likely than not, a buyer is not going to pull into your driveway and walk the path that you always walk to the front door. They more likely than not will park at the street or across the street – or if you live on a corner – around the corner.
Take a few steps in these directions, turn around and see the home your are wanting to sell from that viewpoint. Perhaps a look from another angle could shed some light on a hidden item you need to address. If you are on a corner, are there weeds along your fence? Is there a ton of debris in the street in front of your house – sure the street sweeper will come eventually but why not just do it now? Are neighborhood dog walkers leaving presents on your grass near the sidewalk? On on the sidewalk? That would be a turn off.
And here is one more tip. If you have children, do your curb appeal check often. You never know what hidden little jems you are going to find that they have left laying around, especially after a weekend of playing in the yard.
Read Also: Selling Your Vacant Denver Home – Are You Properly Insured? Highlands Ranch Home Sold In 48 Hours! In This Market? Steve Scheer, RE/MAX Masters, Inc. Denver Real Estate
