Buyer Beware: Don't be Instantly Charmed by Curb Appeal

By: Ed Kirkland
Submitted: 2008-06-27 00:27:47
Print this article | Tell a friend | For publisher | Social Bookmarking
Rating:
 

You may have heard the familiar real estate jargon of, "curb appeal". There's so much information out there on how to enhance your curb appeal to attract buyers. But there's probably much less pertinent info on how to truly assess what is "good" curb appeal, from a buyers perspective. As a buyer although curb appeal might draw you in to go view a home, it's important not to get swept away by the pretty picture. Just as you would have the structure of house inspected, you'll also want to assess the landscaping in a similar way.

Begin by investigating the general health of the plants on the property. Even if you're not an arborist, there are tell tales signs such as wilting, brown or dry crispy leaves that indicate a plant is suffering. Also look for fungus or mushrooms at the base of trees, which can be a sign of poor tree health. Also with trees, you'll want to look into the placement of the tree limbs. Make sure limbs aren't obstructing power lines or the chimney. If there are such complications, assess how much pruning you'll need to do to repair the problem and whether or not such a prune will drastically effect the health or the look of the tree.

Likewise you'll want to ensure that foliage isn't too close to the home's exterior. Such a situation can provide an ideal shelter for rodents and insector delicados to hide from predators, or to slip into the home. Also shrubs can rub up against the house and cause damage to the siding. For all these reasons, plants, trees and shrubs should all be a good distance from the home's exterior.

It's equally important to look for problems underfoot- for nasty root systems that may not be initially visible. You can sometimes see evidence of this through cracks in the sidewalks or driveway, where roots have cracked through the concrete. A depression in the yard, could be the sign of a leaking sewer line due to root interference. These are all things to keep an eye out for- right from your first walk through.

In terms of the elements that make up any home's landscaping, you'll want to assess not only their form and condition, but also their function. What purpose do they serve? Are they merely decorative space filler, or do some aspects provide shade where needed? Is the deck placed in a spot that is advantageous to the sun, or to a particular view, or does it seem like a project slapped together without much thought? Are there areas that are landscaped for sitting, for gardening or for other particular purposes? As best you can, imagine yourself making use of the different areas outside, and truly decide how much of the designed space, has been designed with function in mind.

Assess how the house is situated on the lot. You don't want rainfall to be able to follow a downward slop toward the foundation. This could spell out potential flooding- something that is best to avoid all together.

Although a deck is not a living component of the landscaping it's equally important to assess its value and construction. A deck is often one of those DIY projects, so you'll want to ensure it was done right. Make sure it's fastened correctly to the house and is well supported. A good deck should have a railing for people to hang onto and balusters should be no more than 4 inches apart.

Again, it's important as a buyer to know the difference between curb appeal and "good" curb appeal.

Search for La Veta real estate in Southern Colorado at LaVetaForSale.com. Acquaint yourself with the rules and regulations surrounding the Colorado Water Rights.

Article source: Expert Articles

Most Recent Articles in Real Estate category

  • Sub Prime Mortgage Cheat Sheet - By: Mark Hostetler
    We gather around the water cooler, absently nodding in agreement when a co-worker mentions how Hedge fund losses have contributed to the crisis, but what does it really mean?
  • A Compelling Blog for the Realtor - By: Mike Andruff
    This doesn't mean that all of your posts have to be about idyllic homes with flowers and chirping birds, in fact, people like a good spice of negativity with their positive soup, so don't be afraid to rant on occasion. Just don't make it all the time. Your readers will pay more attention to your rants if you pop them in with more positive blog entries.
  • The Stories Your House Can Tell - By: Mark Hostetler
    Many owners of historic character homes become curious as to its origins. After all a hundred year old home has a lot of stories to tell. Tracing its roots is similar to tracing the genealogy in a family. Like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, you gather clues from leftover paper trails and information from long-time residents to assemble a chronologic history of the building.
  • Is That Home Overpriced? Don't Pass It By - By: Matt Barker
    There are houses that you might be overlooking because they are priced significantly out of your range. However, don't discount these properties immediately. With the help of your Realtor(R), you might be able to find an overpriced home and make an offer that will be accepted.
  • Gamer's Guide to Real Estate - By: Justin Havre
    With an emphasis on real estate development, this PC game revolves almost exclusively around the buying, building and selling of houses. Players can flip them or rent them, upgrade them, build parks in strategic locations, or schmooze with the mayor and woo movie stars. Players can choose from career or casual modes for game play. Touted as being both easy and challenging, Build-a-lot is a suitable introduction to real estate development for children and teens.
  • Make Your Home More Appealing to Buyers - By: Mike Andruff
    Curb appeal, in a buyers market, it's an essential concept that sellers need to understand. Basically, it means making your home appealing from the curb and beyond. It means that the first view a person has of your home appeals to them. It's about making a great first impression.
  • Americans Want Green Homes! - By: Carol Freyer
    A poll where prospective home-owners would choose 'green living' over luxury goods reveals the struggle that many Americans have faced, in fact 81% of participants admit to financial set-backs in their house buying plans. Most obstacles are quoted as revolving around the economy, the house prices and their own incomes, according to the survey.
  • Astrology, Feng Shui, Magic Spells... and Selling Homes - By: Carol Freyer
    Astrology has been used to divine the future since before the Common Era. Many people today view it as a harmless amusement. Move.com even has a section for "homestrology" profiles. Realty Times did an article entitled, "Look to the Stars for Decorating Advice", featuring astrologer John Marchesella, who claims that knowing your Sun Sign can help you choose colors for your home.
  • Small Is Beautiful - By: Carol Freyer
    While the size of the average home gets bigger and bigger, it's refreshing to see the conscious shift to smaller homes that some people are making. Because along with that decreased space comes a decreased environmental footprint, and a decreased energy bill. If the home is well designed with functionality in mind, the living, as they say, is easy. And there's even a Small House Society!
  • California Urban Advocate and Financial Expert Compares Home Loan Bank Executives to Drug Dealers - By: Butch Grimes
    Minority advocate, real estate educator and radio talk show host Butch Grimes appeared on Fox news this past Wednesday to share his listeners' responses to the current state of the real estate and financial industry. While Grimes' statements that listeners are confused and scared is no surprise, his off camera comments comparing bank executives to drug dealers have garnered passionate responses from both his radio show listeners and many in the financial and real estate industries.