Your Guide to DeLand Real Estate & Volusia County Properties

Curb Appeal Checklist

Do you ever watch HGTV or the TLC shows about renovating, flipping or staging homes?  It is all good advice.  Here in DeLand, Volusia County Florida, where the real estate market is abundant with available homes for sale, it is CRITICAL to have your home in tip-top shape when it goes on the market.  Of course, pricing the home competitively is also important, but nothing beats a good first impression.  The following is a basic list of important things to do to get your home ready for sale.

Always keep the basics in mind.  Windows should be washed and sparkling.  Driveways and walkways should be clean and uncluttered.  House numbers and light fixtures should all be nice and in good repair.  For more information or a personal assessment of your home's readiness, contact us today!

Plant Flowers for instant Curb Appeal

The experts all agree that curb appeal is one of the most important aspects to consider when selling your home. When selling, it's the appearance from the street that will very often determine whether potential buyers come in to see the inside, or never get out of their cars.

Flowers are one of the easiest and least expensive ways to make the front of your house look inviting and instantly increase the curb appeal of your home. Without any real landscaping at all, flowers can transform a rather drab and dreary looking front yard into one that looks colorful and lush. Especially during spring and summer, you should take advantage of the season by planting pots and flower boxes.

You should choose colorful flowers that will be in bloom during the time you're selling your home. Planting the flowers in planter boxes and pots is easier than planting them in the ground and lets you more easily place them where they can have the most visual impact. You don't need to have a green thumb, or spend a lot of money to get great results either. Visit your local home improvement center or nursery and they will be happy to advise you of the best flowers and plants for your purpose. You can put together several very nice planter boxes and pots of flowers for well under $100. And it's easy!

One of the nice things about using flowers in this way is that you'll see the results immediately. And so will buyers visiting your home!

The Back Yard
You only get one chance to make a first impression. When buyers are looking at your home, they will usually know almost instantly whether they like it or not. Make sure that by the time they get to looking at the back yard, you keep that great first impression going. Especially during summer months, when buyers will be thinking about barbeques and children playing, the back yard can make an important impression.

If you have a pool or hot tub make sure you keep it looking clean and neat. If your lawn is looking a little bit weak, some fertilizer and watering will bring back the deep green color. Be sure you mow and edge your lawn frequently until your home is sold. Cut back overgrown shrubs to show more of the exterior of your home. It will look more tidy and also makes the yard look bigger. Fences should be in good repair, and you should consider painting them. Make sure all latches and hinges are in good working order. If you have a dog, be extra vigilant to keep the “evidence” to a minimum. You can plant a few annuals to add some instant color that looks great. If you have a patio, make sure the furniture is clean and strategically placed. Consider adding some potted plants.

In short, do everything you can to make your back yard look as inviting and large as possible. It could mean the difference between an excited buyer and one with nagging doubts!

Fresh Paint sells Houses

If your home exterior needs new paint, potential buyers might not even get out of their car to come in and look.  Putting fresh paint on your home, both on the outside and the inside, is usually the one thing you can do that pays off the fastest.  You'll get more buyers looking, and they'll like what they see more, translating into a better chance for a quick offer at a higher price.   

Try to stick with light, neutral colors. These seem to resonate best with buyers.  A fresh coat of light beige on interior walls will freshen up your home and make it more marketable.   

Simply put, new paint is usually the most profitable improvement you can make when getting your home ready for sale.  So unless your paint is already in like new condition, you probably should paint.