The Most Important Aspect of Flipping Houses - Curb Appeal

Of course, you’ve already considered location, so the first step you need
to contemplate in purchasing a house for flipping is curb appeal. What does it
look like from the street? If people aren’t anxious to buy after driving buy,
what chance do you have of making a sale? Curb appeal is everything.

Actually, it’s curb appeal times two. You need to consider what it looks
like to you for buying and you need to envision what it’s going to look like
to a prospective home-buyer when you sell.

If the outside of the home doesn’t captivate you, then no matter what you
do to the inside, you face an uphill battle. I’ve had great houses with great
prices . . . and potential buyers barely slowed down as they drove by. You need
to believe that with a little work and a little money, you can transform a home
from a liability to alluring.

Curb appeal consideration for you: Roof lines even? – You don’t want to
see a sagging roof, even if it’s structurally sound. That look could cost you
thousands in resale value.

• Additions un-cobbled? – Many times people add on dormers or little
  additions. If there are additions: do they fit the basic "look" of the
  house? Does the roofing material match? You don’t want to be changing
  those. You want the home to look picture perfect.
  
  
  
  
  
• Garage converted to a family room or bedroom? – Many times ramblers have
  original built-in garages converted to extra bedrooms and/or family rooms.
  The driveway comes up to the house and you can easily see where new siding
  was added to "hide" the conversion. This rarely works. The best I’ve
  seen used French Doors into a family or garden room.
  
  
  
  
  
• House settling? – If you can see from the street that the house has
  settled, there is little you can do outside of major foundation work.
  
  
  
  
  
• Concrete work settled? Cracked? – Front steps off kilter? Actually, you
  can build new steps around them. Often you construct a small deck that both
  hides the old concrete and enhances the new look. This hides unsightly
  cracks as well (make sure they are repaired first, however (don’t just
  cover them up).
  
  
  
  
  
• Crappy neighbors with crappy homes, crappy landscape and crappy attitudes?
  – If you can buy their homes for a good price, consider it. If not, pass
  it by otherwise you’ll be trying to show your home while the police stop
  by next door for an on-location shooting of "Cops."
  
  
  

  If you purchase the house, you will start working on the curb appeal as
  well as general remodeling. You need to capture the hearts of your potential
  buyers.

  
  

  Curb appeal for your new buyers:

  
  
• Put up large street address numbers so people can easily locate your home
  for sale.
  
  
  
  
  
• Nicely painted – Fresh paint adds value and says the home is well-cared
  for.
  
  
  
  
  
• Landscaping – Big bushes and trees add instant value. Tie the
  landscaping together with edging and you have a complete look. If you
  don’t know what time of year you will be selling, choose mostly evergreens
  and then add flowering plants just before you put up your sign.
  
  
  
  
  
• Charming - Nothing sells like charm. Don’t settle for bland. Add color
  that highlights the home. Got room for an arbor? Is there a small private
  area that can still be seen from the street? Room for a bench? Does the
  house have shutters. They don’t even have to work. They can even have to
  work. Shutters or "faux" shutters can be used to accent the windows and
  make them appear larger.
  
  
  
  
  
• Dramatic lighting – Make sure your address is well lighted. Use dramatic
  spot lights to show off the landscaping and the private areas. If your house
  is vacant, choose a nice table by a beautiful window to add an attractive
  lamp. You want a shade that sends light up and down. You’re want people to
  have the feeling that they’ve come home after being away, and someone left
  the light on for them.
  
  
  

  People view houses when it is convenient to them, this often means after
  work, at night. Be sure to check out your curb appeal for different times of
  day and night.

  
  

  Imagine the house you’re selling as the perfect home. How would it
  look, if it were painted as a romantic scene by Thomas Kincade? You would
  see drama. You would see color. The lighting would pull you into the
  painting. Create that picture for your curb appeal.

  
  

  What you want is an image that stays in the mind of potential buyers.
  They drive by. They call. They look it over. They make their offer. They
  can’t wait to move in. They pursue financing. You get your asking price .
  . . or better. Their dream never waivers. This is their home. All of this is
  done with curb appeal.

  
  
  
  
  
  

  Don Doman is a published author, video producer, and corporate trainer.
  He owns the business training site Ideas and Training (http://www.ideasandtraining.com),
  which he says is the home of the no-hassle "free preview" for
  business training videos. Don and his wife Peg at one time owned 33 single
  family homes, which they purchased, remodeled, and used as income properties
  before selling them for profit. You can gain from their experiences at
  Simple Home Repair (http://www.simplehomerepair.com).