My New Blog

In today's market, sellers have to work harder to persuade buyers that their property is worth the bite.  With a bit of creativity, even on a shoestring budget, the exterior and "curb appeal" of the home can draw immediate attention from potential buyers, enticing them to want to see more.

With every changing season, a landscape should provide a new display of colors, textures or fragrances.  The fall season easily offers an array of choices in colorful flowers and plants and usually lasts for months.  An easy way to be changing out seasonal flowers is to use decorative pots instead of planting directly into the ground.  With just a bit of potting soil, new flowers can be potted in minutes.

Trees and shrubs should be planted in the right scale for the house so that they don't block windows, doors, or other architectural features on the home's exterior.  Too many trees cast too much shadow, darken the home, and cause potential buyers to worry about maintenance and costs.

Maintaining a perfect lawn is especially difficult in Florida's hot and often dry environment.  But it is important to not have brown spots, lawn insects or diseases, or bare spots that detract from the lawn's beauty, especially in the front, which is the first thing a buyer will see.

Good illumination allows buyers to see a home at night and adds drama.  With the fall season comes shorter days, so it is a good idea to use low-voltage lamps to highlight branches of trees, a front door, walk, or corners of the house.  Effective lighting can enhance a home's quality features, but less is better.  The yard should not resemble an airport runway!

The sound of water appeals to many buyers and shouldn't be reserved for just the backyard.  A small fountain accented with rocks provides a pleasant sound, blocks any street noise, and is very affordable.

Decorative architectural elements or ornaments can add that special individual touch, but too much can detract and look like outdoor "clutter."  Keep it simple with just a few items to add character to the landscaping. 

Many buyers enjoy just "riding around" to see what they can find.   Curb appeal is the "first impression" a buyer will get of any home and it very important that what they see will make them anxious to go inside and view more!