Page 6 - TR Home Lawn Garden 2016

6SS SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2016
THREE RIVERS EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE • HOME, LAWN & GARDEN
There are many projects homeowners can complete to improve a home’s curb appeal, such as cleaning the yard, creating an inviting entryway and improving exterior lighting.
Many people are familiar with the idea that a strong first impression can go a long way. While it is most
often referenced in regard to personal inter- action, that idea is also applicable to real estate. Curb appeal refers to the impression a home’s exterior makes on people seeing the home for the first time. Curb appeal can help a home get noticed in a bustling real estate market, and can also contrib- ute to the aesthetics of a neighborhood for residents who plan to stay put.
“It keeps the property values up in a subdivision or a neighborhood,” said Linda Castle, executive broker at Exit Natural State Realty in Searcy. “You want to do that for your fellow neighbors, and you hope that they do that for you. If a neighborhood becomes in disarray and there are several houses that are not well-maintained, then
it can affect the property values of sur- rounding homes.”
The following are a handful of projects to improve a home’s curb appeal that run the gamut from simple to complex.
TIDY UP THE YARD
Cleaning up the yard is among the sim- pler, yet most effective, projects to improve a home’s curb appeal. When selling their homes, homeowners should clear the yard of any clutter, including kids’ toys, grass clippings or items that might be scattered throughout the yard.
“If a buyer drives up to [a home] and there are trash cans and bicycles and all that in the front yard, then it can really be a turnoff,” Castle said. “The outside needs to be as neat and presentable as the inside is.”
A cluttered yard suggests that
CATCHTHE EYE
WAYS TO ADD CURB APPEAL TO A PROPERTY