Create Curb Appeal!
Excerpts from our interview with House & Home Magazine.
These are easy tips for homeowners to implement and will give their homes more welcoming appeal.
– Curb Appeal Questionnaire
How important is curb appeal when selling a home?
I know of a current home on the market that has had the kitchen and baths beautifully remodeled. It is a great house but the seller never cleaned up the outside. Many potential buyers did drive by with their real estate agents but never got out of the car as the curb appeal was non-existent. The house was fairly priced but the seller couldn’t get people in the front door!
In terms of other home improvement projects, do you see people typically spending more time on the inside of their house or the outside?
Many homeowners feel more comfortable improving the interior as they don’t know how to approach our unique desert landscaping.
Our climate allows plenty of opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and it is really part of our lifestyle here. We want to entertain outdoors and we want the amenities that make it an extension of our home. I know of several properties that have sold quickly because of their professional landscaping. Buyers can imagine themselves in the outdoor setting with their families and friends.
How does curb appeal affect a home’s value and livability?
We have all driven down residential streets where one home after another has beautiful curb appeal. They may not have high-end landscaping but just a well maintained front yard. It says a lot about the neighborhood. And of course even one or two neglected homes really detract.
One way to add to the livability of your home/neighborhood is to provide a simple seating area in the front yard. It can be used by parents while they keep an eye on younger children or a place to visit with neighbors. It gives your home a friendly look.
Desert Landscaping: Could you offer an example of a low-end, medium- and high-end solution to enhance curb appeal? Please note which projects a homeowner can do themselves and which they should contact a contractor for.
· Providing a walkway from the street to the front door is much more welcoming than walking up a driveway. Walkways can be DYI projects such as a crushed granite path with a border meandering to the front door or it can be a professionally installed hardscape such as pavers or flagstone.
· Use plant material that offers seasonal interest for year round good looks.
· Learn proper pruning techniques and don’t over prune your plants in “marshmallow” and “gum-drop” shapes. This is not attractive and it will end up shortening the life of the plant!
· Include accent plants like red yucca, agave, and desert spoon mixed in combinations with groundcovers and shrub forms.
What are some of the popular trends in the Valley to enhance a home’s curb appeal?
Front yard patios with fire bowls.
Entry courtyards with cushioned outdoor furniture arrangements that resemble outdoor rooms.
What advice do you have for homeowners beginning a home improvement project?
Always start with a plan!
Remember, it is difficult to furnish and decorate the interior of your entire house all at once, so you may need to break the exterior of your home into a series of projects as well. Tackle and finish one project at a time!
If time is of the essence, what are a couple “quick fixes” homeowners can do to improve the curb appeal of their home (both landscaping and structural)?
Install some very large pots loaded up with blooming plants or even a collection of cacti and succulents out where the driveway and sidewalk meet and more at the front door. If there is room for seating, add that as well. These are things you can take to the new house if you choose not to leave them behind. Make sure the house paint looks fresh and the existing landscaping is maintained. Clean off the driveway.
Sharon Pangle Miller R.L.A.
Pangle Miller Design, Phoenix, Arizona
p.602.404.7500
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