INVESTORS’ CORNER: Seal the deal with curb appeal part 2

Part 2 of 2

If you have homes that have a lot of children living in the area as well as possible, pet owners, you may want to make sure that if the house has a fence, that you make sure it is secure. A decorative yard lamp could be added and this will help the appearance and add security at the same time.

Landscape is where some people can make expensive mistakes. Since bushes, trees, and decorative plants can cost thousands in landscape designs, you do not want to go overboard. Not even on your own home. Keep it simple and you can keep it cheap too. Around your mailbox post is a good place for some colorful flowers. You may also have some flowerbeds near you from entrance. This really looks good and can be done on a budget. Trim all the bushes to the same size and shape if they are in a group. This will make them look uniform as well as fancy. If I spend the money to plant any decorative trees, I get one that will look decent all year round.

It’s better to do a lot of little inexpensive things than it is to do one big expensive thing to add appeal. Dress up the front door with a nice color of paint that will go well with the house but add flair. It’s just like dressing up an old suite with a new tie. Go a little further and add a fancy decorative doorknob and knocker set. Maybe even a brass kick plate. These items don’t cost much but can add drama to the house. Keep in mind that if people don’t like the outside of the house the they will probably never see the inside. You may not realize it, but bad curb appeal could be the reason that a house sits on the market for months.

Let’s summarize a few of the tips for make sure the curb appeal will seal the deal. Pressure washing is a cheap way to clean up the entire exterior of any property. Painting a fresh coat raises the value and appeal and is inexpensive No-cost items like cleaning windows, mowing lawns, raking leaves as well as trimming Hedges, bushiness, de-weeding and trimming branches from the house.

Pete Youngs is a national speaker better known as “Mr. Rehab” and a longtime friend of the Metrolina Real Estate Investors Association, which provides education, mentoring, and networking for real estate investing in the Charlotte region. He can be contacted at PeteYoungs.com. For more information, visit www.MetrolinaREIA.org.