Examining the Power of Curb Appeal

With so many potential buyers viewing property on the Internet, first impressions are essential. If your house doesn't stand out the next listing is only a click away. A great exterior will not only stop a surfer, it will get a drive-by buyer through your front door. Don't underestimate the power of curb appeal! The front of your house is its calling card, and it's up to you to make sure it's giving the right number.

First take care of the obvious: Poor exterior maintenance will have potential buyers wondering what else you didn't keep up. Clean moss off the roof and plants out of gutters; wash the windows and pressure wash dirty decks or siding. Clear weeds growing from the front walk. Take care of the details. If your driveway has faded, it's time to re-seal it. Fill the cracks in your sidewalk. Trim back unruly bushes, mow the lawn and add mulch to tidy up garden beds. Put away tools and other yard clutter - the property should look well taken care of.

Spruce up your front entrance. You may want to change your front door for something more eye-catching, perhaps engraved wood or one with decorative glasswork. Changing the door's hardware can also help it stand out. The doorknob and knocker should be polished. Placing planters near the front door can add a pleasing visual as well as contributing fragrance to further the sensory experience. A front doormat can also be welcoming touch.

Changes that cost more can also increase the selling price. If you can afford to paint the house, look for examples of eye-catching color combinations in design magazines, online and in your city. If you can't afford to paint the whole building, just do the trim and shutters. Adding window boxes can also brighten the exterior.

Landscaping is another opportunity to increase the value of your property. You could hire a professional, but just adding a few shrubs and flowering bushes should do the trick. A well placed bench can help potential buyers imagine themselves sitting in their new garden.

You can ensure potential buyers notice your home just by giving the exterior a little extra attention. Remember, your traffic and often your selling price will increase with your home's curb appeal.

Posted by Rhonda Dykeman on December 13, 2008 at 12:00 AM

About Rhonda Dykeman
Rhonda Dykeman is affliated with Realty World Caton & Associates, which is located in Plainfield, IL. For further assistance please use the contact information located on the right.

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Local Information for Plainfield, IL

Latitude: 41.61728 -- Longitude: -88.202837

ZIP Codes for Plainfield, Illinois	60544
Area Code for Plainfield, Illinois	815
Time zone for Plainfield, Illinois	CST

Other Area Cities: Plainfield, IL Naperville, IL Aurora, IL Addison, IL Joliet, IL Lockport, IL Warrenville, IL Woodridge, IL Shorewood, IL

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The Village of Plainfield is a municipality in Will County, Illinois, United States. The Village includes land in Plainfield and Wheatland Townships. Part of Plainfield is located in Kendall County (Na-Au-Say and Oswego Townships). The population has grown from 4,500 in 1990 to about 30,314 in 2005. Plainfield is also one of the fastest growing communities in Illinois. Plainfield is identified as the oldest community in Will County because the earliest settlement of Walkers' Grove was established on the banks of the DuPage River by 1828. However, the actual Village of Plainfield was platted immediately north of Walkers' Grove in 1834 by Chester Ingersoll. East Plainfield was platted in 1835 by James Matthews. The two fledgling communities were joined by Levi Arnold's Addition in 1845. -- Source: Wikipedia.com

Illinois 2000 Census Population Profile Map

	Plainfield	Illinois	United States
Population	13,038	12,419,293	281,421,906
Median age	33.2	34.7	35.3
Median age for Male	33	33.3	34
Median age for Female	33.5	36	36.5
Households	4,315	4,591,779	105,480,101
Household population	12,967	12,097,512	273,643,273
Average household size	3.01	2.63	2.59
Families	3,522	3,105,513	71,787,347
Average family size	3.37	3.23	3.14
Housing units	4,609	4,885,615	115,904,641
Occupied units	4,315	4,591,779	105,480,101
Vacant units	294	293,836	10,424,540

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Examining the Power of Curb Appeal

Local Information for Plainfield, IL

Latitude: 41.61728 -- Longitude: -88.202837

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