Landscaping key to creating curb appeal
Curb appeal is something we all should shoot for, whether we’re putting our house on the market or not. • Just think what pleasure you receive when you see a house neatly tended, with colorful or architectural plants to draw your eye, maybe a curved stone path for a sidewalk, and some porch furniture that makes you wish you could take a seat by the front door.
The more houses there are that have curb appeal, the more appealing our neighborhoods and cities are and the more joy we can spread.
While an endless number of factors can contribute to curb appeal, there are a few that definitely detract and must be avoided — especially if you’re planning to put your house on the market.
“When I show a house and all the dead leaves are still there in the flower beds, it just gives the impression (that the sellers) don’t care,” said real-estate agent Margie Zwiesler of RE/MAX Premier in Wichita, Kan.
Overgrown trees and shrubs that cover up the house also need to be pruned to advantage, she said.
“That first glance is the most important,” Zwiesler said. “If the landscaping is mulched and weeded and neat and clean, they’re going to assume that the house is kept the same way. I think that first impression is worth a whole bunch of money.”
She advises home sellers to invest in mulch “and spend an afternoon getting it tidied up.”
“If they can add some bright flowers and make it a happy place, that would be even better yet. Get rid of all the dead winter stuff. I think that landscaping is just as important as staging the house — staging the outside as well. You’re forming a picture of the house for a buyer. They drive by and do, in fact, come inside.”
Adam Henning of Precision Lawn & Landscape in Wichita said he has clients who seek help with their front yard when selling a house, and he also advises adding bright annual flowers, which will bloom all season.
“Let’s say if you’ve got shrubs out front and they’re not in bloom, the annuals dress that up,” Henning said.
The flowers can go in garden beds if there’s room, or in pots on the front porch or in front of the garage, he said.
When it comes to mulch, he likes shredded cedar. “It smells real good,” he said. HGTV’s Front Door website has these additional curbappeal tips:
Walk around the exterior of the house with a notepad and a critical eye, noting what looks off. Get in your car and drive by slowly from both directions during the day and night.
Assess the state of the house numbers: Are they clean and easy to read? Consider replacing them with something that harmonizes or contrasts nicely with the house.
Pressure-washing can clean decks, siding, driveways and walks. Pressure washers can be rented, and there are also businesses that do the washing and can also remove rust.
Look at your window treatments from the street. Windows look prettier when curtains are open; try to keep the look uniform throughout the house.
Consider a new porch light, a new mailbox and a new doormat.
It’s time for all of us to get outside with a critical eye and see what needs freshening.