The keys to curb appeal

Published 12:01 am Sunday, February 13, 2011

If you’re trying to sell your house in winter, creating curb appeal can be especially challenging.

It’s dark and rainy, and you don’t feel like dealing with the landscaping or your mildewed deck.

February, however, is one of the best times of year to put your house on the market, said real estate broker Tonya Tye with Windermere Real Estate of Lynnwood.

In fact, March is one of the busiest months of the year for pending sales in this region, Tye said.

So, how can sellers seize this opportunity to get ahead of the competition?

Get out there, even though it might be freezing, and spruce things up, Tye said.

FRONT DOOR

Go minimalist: Don’t clutter up your front porch or steps with too many decorations or plants.

You need to make room for buyers, who may be huddled on the porch trying to stay out of the rain while the real estate agent fiddles with the key box.

Get rid of debris: Keep your outside entry sparkling clean, free of cobwebs, leaves, mold and debris. As buyers wait to go in, they’ll be looking around, gathering their first impressions.

•More tips: Be especially attentive to the front door area if it is not your usual entrance.

Homeowners, Tye said, often enter through their garages, so they accidentally disregard the front.

LANDSCAPING

Cut it back: If you can’t see it, you can’t sell it. Cut down or prune back the enormous rhododendron planted right in front of your house, especially if it keeps buyers from seeing your home.

Even though you love it and you’re used to it — and the privacy it creates inside — think about changing it if you’re serious about selling.

Spruce it up: If you have vacant garden beds, containers or areas near walks, plant them with box hedges, ornamental cabbages or wispy grasses to warm up the space and give it some green. Keep weeds under control.

•More tips: Use pots for color. Instead of trying to care for flowers, add some colorful pots — bright blues, reds or oranges — and plant them with low-maintenance evergreens for winter interest.

“Break up the darkness and make people happy to come to your house,” Tye said.

OVERALL impression

Leave the lights on: Day or night, turn on the lights. Anything that makes your home feel light and bright is good. Besides, not all real estate agents will know where all the light switches are located.

Clean: That includes windows and gutters. Make sure decks are sparkling clean. You don’t want them to be slimy or slippery, which can be dangerous.

Paint: Areas to target include trim and garage doors.

•More tips: Inspect paths. Keep walks clear of debris and branches from overgrown shrubs and trees. Tidy up; put away hoses and cover outdoor faucets with tidy insulating covers. Put away patio furniture and cover up barbecues.

Finally, remember, you’re catering to a strict audience of folks who may judge your home by a single picture, viewed online.

That’s part of why curb appeal matters so much, Tye said.

“There are so many houses on the market right now, that it’s really easy for people to just say, ‘Nope, nope, nope.’”