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.
