Did you know most buyers make a subconscious decision on a property within ten to fifteen seconds of pulling up to the home? If you’re breaking into foreclosure investment, you need to know how important curb appeal is. For key information about updating and upgrading the exterior of a property quickly, keep reading to learn how.
1. Clean it Up
Start by clearing out all the debris from both the front yard and the back. If there are any rundown structures on the property, check your local by-laws and have them removed if possible.
Then, have the property power-washed. Either do it yourself with a rental or hire a company that can power-wash the house, windows, deck, garage and even the driveway. You’ll be amazed at how a good cleaning can really rejuvenate a property.
2. Paint It
From the window sills to the house itself, paint it. A fresh coat of paint on a tired deck or cracked shutters can really brighten and freshen a property to make it look almost new again.
3. Replace or Repair the Deck or Porch
If power-washing and painting a front or back porch still isn’t helping, you may have to invest in having the deck either repaired or replaced. Remember, a front porch that sags to one side and is missing it’s railing isn’t going to appeal to potential buyers.
4. New Fixtures
From the door handle to the knocker to the mailbox, replace your outdoor fixtures to add curb appeal to the property. An outdated porch light, for example, can drag down the overall appearance a house. While a new one won’t cost much, it can make a home seem contemporary and fresh.
5. Add Some Greenery
If there isn’t time to plant flowers or shrubbery, add some greenery and plant life with potted plants or plants that have been pre-grown in a nursery. However, if you’re handling a number of foreclosure investment properties, potted plants can be moved from house to house as needed.
6. Stage the Front Porch
Just as you would stage the interior of a home with simple furniture, stage the front porch with nice lawn furniture that can either be returned, sold or used again after you sell the house. Focus on making the front porch an inviting entranceway to the home.
7. Turn on the Light
Leave the front and rear lights on if you plan to show the property at night. Also, consider setting up tasteful solar lights in the backyard or along any walkways that could use a little extra illumination.
For information on exciting real estate locations, visit http://www.realestatelocale.com, a popular site providing great insights concerning home purchase ideas, such as Manchester New Hampshire real estate, Senoia real estate, and many more!
1 user commented in " Foreclosure Investing - 7 Keys to Create Curb Appeal "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a Trackback[…] The truth about foreclosures: Just because the bank owns it and wants to not own it anymore doesn’t make it a bargain automatically. Buyers still need to do their research, Realtors still need to be aware of market conditions and advise buyers accordingly, and everyone needs to be aware that it takes patience to deal both with the bank and the problems that may arise. Didn’t I already say this? Tony’s tips for curb appeal on foreclosure sales may be intended for REO agents (who are experienced listing agents or the bank would never call them) and investors who have purchased property from banks (see above). But they still hold true for Joe and Jane Average as they try to sell their home. Your Friendly Neighborhood Licensee: I bet there’s at least one Realtor that lives in your neighborhood. Heck, there’s at least 3 on my block! Odds are very good that there’s a Realtor or two that takes a vested interest in your neighborhood, even if she lives miles away. She sends newsletters, she knows every house that’s been available for the last year, she goes door to door, maybe she goes to HOA meetings and organizes neighborhood garage sales. Well, she probably does genuinely like the neighborhood — particularly if she chooses to live there! — but the truth is she would like your business too. It’s a win-win situation, because chances are she knows and can highlight the great things about the neighborhood and the homes in it better than any agent in the area. […]
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