Tehama Country Real Estate

2 – Tehama Country Real Estate HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR HOME'S CURB APPEAL TO GET NOTICED BY BUYERS Real Estate Spotlight By Alex Mason irst impressions count. When it's time to take your house to market, curb appeal can make or break the sale. However, you don't need to break the bank to enhance your home, and by follow- ing a few simple guidelines you can transform your house from beaten down to best on the block with some do-it-yourself tips. F Front Door The front door to the prop- erty is a real eye-catcher and needs to grab some attention and make itself known. Remove tired and worn-out screens and give your front door a makeover with a vibrant coat of paint. To create a frame for your door, be sure to paint the trim in a darker color than the door. Porch Straight, clean lines are in order for the porch to add a sense of space and sharpen the effect of a freshly painted door. Be sure to remove unused objects such as baskets, dec- orations, tired chairs and anything else that will detract from your liv- ing space. Front Lawn Keep it clean and keep it green. A front lawn that is well cared for speaks volumes about what's in store for the interior living space. Fresh sod and plenty of water will make your green grass thrive, and a splash of color adds a special touch. Adding Color To Your Lawn Flowers can be expensive, and some species require abundant care. How- ever, low cost pansies make a dra- matic addition to an outdoor space and are easily transplanted in a mature state. To cut back on cost and make your garden pop, try lining the just the walkway with a colorful selection of flowers to draw the eye to the path, porch and front door. If you have the time and money, lin- ing the entire front of the home with flowers is a treat to look at. Howev- er, home sellers on a budget will do well to stick to the center pathway and porch areas. Evening Curb Appeal Some buyers are prone to property drive-bys after hours, so you want to make your home stand out at night. By adding a line of solar lights along the pathway, you can create a soft glow that outlines the yard and creates a symmetrical ambience. In addition, a low-voltage porch light in soft yellow or orange adds warmth and enough illumination to showcase your home at night. Exterior Attitude The exterior of your home should radiate an appealing color contrast to set your property apart from the rest. Sandblasting may not meet and exceed most budgets, but a fresh coat of paint will take you far. Light colors, such as white, egg shell, yellow and similar hues, give the illusion that the property is larg- er. Similarly, darker exterior paint will close off that spacious look and create the illusion of a smaller home. Exterior Accents Once the house is painted, you are ready to accessorize with window treatments, garden statuary and col- orful decor. Window shutters provide a neat and tidy appearance, and you may find them at good prices and competitive rates. The shutters should be darker than the exterior paint to create an eye-popping color contrast and true curb appeal. Use your creative powers to enhance a color scheme to suit your taste and best accentuate your lawn with colorful window treatments at bargain deals. To save even more, try signing up for a home improvement class at your local garden center for ideas and installation information on to do the job yourself and save money. Add a few pieces of garden statuary or water fountains, and your front yard is transformed into a place that is sure to leave a pleasant impres- sion with potential buyers. Alex Mason is a former real estate agent and mortgage broker living in Los Angeles.

• Cover