Curb Appeal

What exactly is curb appeal?

Curb appeal refers to the exterior appeal of your home. Even if you are not planning to sell your home, its curb appeal is still important for resale purposes as well as your neighborhood value.

The exterior of your home is the first thing a person will see… and how your home will be judged. It can also make a difference as to how quickly your home may sell. Landscaping can make a huge difference to your home. Although it may not always add monetary value, it can help aid in a quicker sale. Some items that help create a desirable exterior:

• Keep your lawn mowed and edged on a weekly basis
• Mulch your garden and planters
• Plant an array of flora that blooms throughout the year. Perennials and annuals as well as some hardy staples such as hostas, peonies, mums.
• Don’t over do it! You don’t want your landscaping to look crowded. Make sure to plant symmetrically.
• Keep your driveway, walkway, and porch swept of debris, leaves, and cobwebs.
• Keep up with fertilization and weeding.
• Remove trash that may blow onto your property daily.
• Cars that no longer work, abandoned appliances, furniture, or any other item that you do not use will only decrease the value and salability of your home and others. Have them removed from the property.
• Keep garden ornaments at a tasteful minimum… (pink flamingo’s are not tasteful)

Not only is an appealing yard valuable for resale, it is valuable to your neighborhood's reputation. It shows a pride of ownership and helps in resale of other neighbor’s homes. Remember, when a buyer moves into a neighborhood they are critiquing the entire community as well as their potential neighbors.

If you weren't born with a green thumb and do not want to invest in a professional landscaper, join Lowe’s Garden Club. It is free and you can sign up at any Lowe’s store or on line at lowes.com/GardenClub. You will receive informative magazines which detail many landscaping ideas such as diagrams for planting gardens, lawn care, patios, etc.