Alford Realty Group

Real estate information, helping buyers and sellers in the Lake Norman area with their real estate plans

Lisa Alford

704-408-2834
Lisa@AlfordRG.com

5 exterior things that you can do for under $500 that could net you thousands

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There are at least 5 things that you can do for under $500 that could net you thousands in the sale of your home.  This list is just for the exterior of your home.  I will do a separate post to show 5 things you can do to the interior of your home.

The video below is a good recap for this topic and I encourage you to watch it.  The simple truth is when a buyer comes up to your home they don’t want to see a “project”.  These days buyers want show ready and ready to move in.   If you want the most money for your home that you can get, you will give them exactly that.  That doesn’t always mean you have to spend a fortune to get it that way though.

 

Here are 5 things for under $500 that could net you thousands in return:

  1. Replace or spruce up the mail box – you don’t want people to see an ugly old mailbox that they are afraid to put their hands inside.  This small detail can really make a difference in curb appeal.
  2. Landscaping – trim the shrubs.  Don’t let the shrubs hide the house.  Make sure the grass is cut nicely, consider removing overgrown shrubs and planting smaller ones if they’ve gotten too big and cutting them back leaves nothing but a dead looking mess.  Lastly, add some fresh mulch.
  3. Pressure wash the house – nobody wants to drive up and see a mildew covered house or driveway.  Clean it up and let it shine.  Be sure to remove your window screens prior to pressure washing as it can tear screens to bits.
  4. Replace the front door – or even just paint it if it’s in good shape.
  5. Decorating the porch of exterior entryway.  Place some chairs with pretty cushions and/or a small table with flowers in a pot.  Add a pretty wreath and even a tasteful seasonal flag.

If you are looking to get the most out of your home, call me!  704-408-2834  I’ll be glad to come out and give you some inside tips on how to improve your net gain.  Then list with me and we’ll let my proven marketing system bring you the right buyer fast.  I’m not just all talk, see my reviews from my former clients here.

What’s your home worth in today’s market?  Curious?  Enter your address here for instant results!

 

 

 

Landscaping can add up to 12% to your home value!

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In the Mooresville and Lake Norman area real estate market, we all know that first impressions of a home count for a lot but wow!  This is amazing!  We at Alford Realty Group are always looking for ways for our clients to gain a competitive edge.   These results show that not only does great landscaping improve your curb appeal, it also makes the buyer feel your home is worth more.  Research from Virginia Tech shows that upgrading your home’s landscape from average to excellent can raise your home’s overall value by 10%-12%.

Researcher Alex X. Niemiera with the Department of Horticulture at Virginia Tech found that a $150,000 home with no landscaping could fetch an additional $8,300 to $19,000 by adding a landscape with color and large plants.

Not surprisingly, different states showed different values for landscaping. For example, the change in value from a home with no landscape to well-landscaped ranged from 5.5 percent in Louisiana to 11.4 percent in South Carolina. Michigan homes saw the biggest difference in landscaping appeal, with a home’s value being increased by 12.7 percent.

Survey results showed that in terms of perceived home value, respondents ranked design sophistication as most important, plant size as next important and diversity of plant type as least important.  All of these increased the curb appeal and therefore the respondents felt it increased the home’s overall value.

“The most preferred landscape included a sophisticated design with large deciduous, evergreen, and annual color plants and colored hardscape,” according to Niemiera. Adding different plant sizes to a front yard, for example, can boost curb appeal, as well as mixing fruit trees and flowers for added color.

“Survey results showed that relatively large landscape expenditures significantly increase perceived home value and will result in a higher selling price than homes with a minimal landscape,” Niemiera writes in the paper. “Design sophistication and plant size were the landscape factors that most affected value. The resulting increase in ‘curb appeal’ of the property may also help differentiate a home in a subdivision where house styles are similar and thereby attract potential buyers into a home. This advantage is especially important in a competitive housing market.”

 

Excerpts taken from article by Andrea Davis in RealtyTimes.com

 

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My mission is simple - to provide you with the very best service possible.  After all, from beginning to end the whole process of buying or selling a home is about you and your needs.  I will do everything I can to make sure you not only get the best … Read more...

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