Page 30 THE VILLADOM TIMES I & III • September 12, 2012 Anyone who has tried to sell a home is likely to have heard the phrase “curb appeal.” Improving curb appeal involves dressing up your home in the hopes it makes a strong first impression on prospective buyers, many of whom will have a strong opinion about the property before they even get out of their cars to have a look around. A home with strong curb appeal can entice buyers who are likely to believe that a home with a well-maintained exterior is likely to have an equally impressive interior. Homeowners who want the process of selling their home to go smoothly can improve the property’s curb appeal in a number of ways, many of which do not require a substantial home improvement budget. The most effective way to improve curb appeal is to clean up the property. Many homeowners are savvy enough to remove toys and other items from the yard before showing a home, but cleaning up goes beyond removing clutter. Make sure all the hedges are trimmed, and remove weeds, sticks, and other debris from any flower beds. Lay mulch in the flower beds and garden, as mulch prevents weed growth while helping the soil retain moisture, resulting in more attractive gardens to catch a buyer’s eye. Edging is another easy and effective way to improve curb appeal. Edge driveways, sidewalks, and other walkways around the property, removing or trimming anything that is hanging over the driveway or walkway. If the bound- Have your home make a great first impression ary between your driveway and lawn is not distinct, consider installing edging materials such as stone or bricks. The edging can be level with the driveway or elevated, but keep in mind that elevated driveway edging can protect the lawn, preventing kids from riding their bicycles onto the lawn or motorists from driving onto it. Adding edging is an easy do-it-yourself project. Many homeowners grow accustomed to overgrown trees around their property and may not notice that low-hanging, unsightly branches are hiding the home from view. Buyers want to see the house, so take to the trees and trim any branches that hang too low or obscure the house. Clean the gutters. Leaves and sticks hanging from the gutters are a red flag to buyers, who will associate clogged gutters with roof damage. Clean the gutters thoroughly before putting your home up for sale and keep them clean throughout the selling process. If your property includes lots of trees, install guards to keep twigs and leaves out of the gutters. Make the home accessible through the front door. Many homeowners enter their houses through a side door or through the garage. Keep in mind that prospective buyers will be entering through the front door, so make this area accessible. Clear any clutter, such as overgrown hedges, away from the front door, and consider upgrading the door handle to a more modern feature. In addition, make sure the lock on the front door doesn’t stick, forcing the Realtor and prospective buyers to immediately struggle before entering the home. You want buyers and their real estate agents to get in and out of the house as smoothly as possible. Make sure all plants, including flowers, are alive. Dehydrated or dead plants and flowers are eyesores, and will give buyers the impression that you didn’t pay much atten- tion to your property. Make sure all plants are alive and thriving and replace those that are not. You can replant new flowers or plants or use potted plants instead. When purchasing new plants, choose low-maintenance varieties that appeal to buyers who want good vibrant plants but might not want to put in much work into the garden.