CURB YOUR UNRULY BUSH!

Get enthusiastic about curb appeal
By Sheila Brady
Postmedia News September 11, 2011

It doesn't matter if you're just starting out in a new home, thinking about selling, or stayin' put - buffing up the curb appeal of your house is an absolute must. How your home looks from the outside is the first impression viewers get of who lives inside.

And real estate agents will tell you when it comes to selling, there is no bigger turnoff than a messy front yard or sad-looking front door.

The cheapest way to put a shine on the old address is to grab the rake.

Weed, trim edges for a clean appearance and prune and shape overgrown bushes. Snip off lower branches of pines for a good neat factor.

Add mulch or stones under cedars and around flower beds. Just like a new haircut, you will feel lighter by the end of the day.

Think about eliminating fences and using joint walkways, garden beds and plantings on smaller suburban lots, especially when there are bungalow or two storey townhouses, says landscape architect Welwyn Wong.

When it comes to door colour, co-ordinate with trim work and the brick colour, says colour specialist Jasmine Houghton. Avoid shocking colours.

CURB ANY DOUBT

Create curb appeal
By Karen Cole Banack

Check out some welcoming ideas that will enhance your home and create curb appeal.


A house with curb appeal stands out from the rest. We notice it because it provides us with simple aesthetic pleasure every time we pass by. Most homes have their own unique blend of charms. Even two identical homes can achieve very different looks with a combination of pleasing exterior elements. Here are some welcoming ideas that you can use to enhance your home and create curb appeal.

Colour

Colour is a powerful tool when used correctly. A facade with a beautiful colour combination is extremely pleasing.

• When choosing exterior paint, look to your landscape for inspiration. Also keep in mind that the colour of your trim should complement the colour of your roof.

• Bright sun will often make strong colours appear bolder and vibrant ones seem brighter. For a toned-down look, try historical paint colours with grey undertones.

• Save brights for outdoor accessories or small areas. A colourful market umbrella, porch chair, painted bird feeder or striped retractable awning are attractive ways to spruce up the front of your house.

Entrance

Treat yourself and your guests to a welcoming entrance area. Even a small area can offer a charming greeting.

• Paint your front door with a strong colour so that it stands out from the rest of the house. Embellish the door further with a knocker, polished-metal kickplate and an inviting, homey touch like a wreath, bunch of pussy willows or basket of flowers.

• A new railing will add panache to an old porch, as will attractive wicker or teak furniture and accessories like flower-filled planters.

• Make a small entryway more inviting with a pair of urns, planter boxes or ivy-covered trellis panels flanking the entrance, or display a hurricane lamp on a table next to the door.

Facade


When making any structural changes, always remain true to the architectural integrity of your home. Don't try to make a country cottage look stately or a tall, handsome Georgian look cute.

• Use unique architectural details to enhance your home. A round stained-glass window, weather vane on a turret, portico painted in a rich colour or window boxes all offer lovely ways to bring interest to a home's exterior.

• When painting shutters, select a rich complementary shade that doesn't overpower the rest of your house's colour scheme.

Lighting

Even simple outdoor lighting will bring your home to life at night.

To create drama, install lighting along a walkway, between shrubbery or in trees.

• Mount a pair of beautiful coach lanterns on either side of French doors to give your home an elegant and stately appearance.

• Design indoor lighting to convey warmth and interest when viewed from outside. For instance, a light in a small round attic window lends character to a home's exterior.

Landscaping

Architectural landscaping is a very effective way to add colour, beauty, vitality and personality.

• Define a walkway by embedding stepping stones into the grass or gravel.

• A brick path surrounded by an overgrown all-white garden looks simple and elegant.

• A rose- or clematis-covered arbour or pergola makes a lasting impression.

• Fences are another option for creating individual style. Try a white picket fence for a cottage look, wrought iron for stately elegance and tall wood slats for privacy.

THE MAGIC 8 BALL

8 Factors That Devalue A Good Home
By INVESTOPEDIA

If you’re considering selling your home, there are a number of factors you should consider regarding the resale value of your property. Some of these issues may devalue your home or scare some potential buyers away entirely, even if your home is an otherwise outstanding property! Consider these eight factors when listing your home.

1. Location, Location, Location

Many real estate television shows repeat this phrase over and over. Buying a home in an area that provides residents with access to services and effective transportation is important – though many buyers don’t wish to live too close to airports and busy roads for fear of noise.

Visual appeal is another concern. Cell phone towers and power lines can be seen as eyesores – or possibly even having potential health hazards. Local school closures can also deter potential buyers who have children or who are considering having children in the near future. Some buyers may be leery of purchasing homes that are on flood plains.

To ensure maximum resale potential, consider how many of these types of issues exist near the properties you’re considering. Remember, though, there’s no way of knowing exactly how a neighborhood will evolve over time. (A lazy or incompetent real estate agent could spell disaster.)

2. Good Renovations Gone Bad

If your home looks like a DIY nightmare, this can definitely devalue your home. Though putting money into renovations generally increases the value of a home, poorly done renovations can have the opposite effect. If buyers feel that the renovations will have to be redone, there’s a good chance they’ll make a lower offer or keep looking for a move-in ready home.

3. Overly Creative Customization

That bright pink feature wall might have seemed like a good idea at the time, but the truth is that unusual paint choices – both inside and outside the home – can turn buyers off, even if your customization is the cutting edge trend in current home design magazines. Customizing spaces so that they may not be functional to future buyers, like turning the garage into a home gym or a granny apartment, might make some buyers reluctant to buy your property.

The same can be said for unique landscaping choices or renovations that are too high scale for the house. A professional chef’s kitchen or marble bathrooms in a modest home suited to first-time buyers won’t likely provide a good return on investment.
4. Unappealing Curb Appeal

The first thing potential buyers will see is the exterior of the property. If the house appears to be outdated or in poor repair on the outside, people will assume it is the same for the inside. Water features or swimming pools and overly landscaped green space may turn off some buyers since people tend to associate high maintenance yards with expensive upkeep and unnecessary headaches. Old fences and sheds can also devalue your home, especially if they look like they’re in dire need of replacement. Keep the gardens weeded and the lawn mowed so that potential buyers can see how nice the property is, inside and out.

5. Pets Gone Wild

Many people won’t mind buying a home that has had resident animals, but no one wants to live with constant reminders of former owners’ pets. Damage to carpets, walls or a strong smell of animals will put off some buyers – especially those with allergies. Consider letting your pets live elsewhere while the property is for sale. Also, a good cleaning and repairing of any visible damage will help to mitigate the potential devaluation of your home associated with pet ownership.

6. Not-So-Nice Neighborhood

A dodgy neighborhood with a high crime rate or homes on your block that look unkempt can scare potential buyers away. Even if your neighbors have unusual-colored homes or have made strange additions to their homes, this can be perceived by potential buyers as an eyesore.

7. Sinister Reputation

Well-known crimes, deaths or even urban legends associated with your house or neighborhood can decrease the value of a home immensely. Most people don’t want to live in a home where they feel that something awful has happened, much less move in with your alleged resident ghost! Though these kinds of issues may be out of your control, they may certainly have an impact on the resale value of your home.

8. Frightful Foreclosures

Many buyers are leery of purchasing foreclosures that are being sold on an “as-is” basis. The fear is that the home could be a money pit or require a huge amount of repairs before being move-in ready. Some good homes may be available through foreclosures, but it’s important to do your research, ask lots of questions and don’t be afraid to bargain. It’s also crucial that you get a home inspection so that you know exactly what you’re getting into. There’s a good chance that some work will be required when buying a foreclosure, but you may get great value for your money if you’re willing to put in a little work.

The Bottom Line

Neighborhoods change over time, so there’s no way to be totally sure when you buy a property how the area will look in the years to come. However, you should always make your best efforts to address any issues with your property that are within your control. Play up your home’s strong points and get involved with your realtor to ensure that any special features of your home and neighborhood have been highlighted.

Photo By: .Craig