What are some ways to spruce up my curb appeal?

Here are 6 tips you can do to your home to make it more appealing to buyers and they won’t cost you a fortune. These tips could make the difference in your home being sold versus your neighbors.

1. Clean the yard. Take the time to clean up the yard. Rake the dead leaves and grass. Put away any tools or equipment that may be lying around. If buyers see a mess in your yard, they will think twice about wanting to see the inside of the house as it may be indication of what else may await for them.

2. Paint the house/fence. A new coat of paint can go a long way to making your house look newer. Bold colors can reflect your personal taste, so make sure you choose a neutral color that will appeal to the most number of people.

3. Enhance your walkway. You can boost your homes look by adding brick or a stone paved walkway to the front of your house. Dress it up even more by adding some solar powered walkway lights.

4. Plant new flowers and trees. Adding some new color can make a big difference in brightening up your homes appearance and make it look more cheery to prospective buyers.

5. Add window treatments. Add some decorative shutter to keep your home from looking plain and boring. You could also add some plant boxes.

6. Replace your front door. Changing the front door can change the entire look of your home.

These small changes can go a long way to spruce up your homes curb appeal.

Can I child proof my house and still sell it?

There are some subtle and inexpensive ways to child proof your house that won’t bother most buyers. In fact, some buyers will be grateful and feel like it increases the value if they have young ones or plan to.

1. Cabinet locks. Install these in areas where potentially dangerous items are stored, such as under the kitchen sink cabinet.

2. Appliance locking straps. These are easy to install and prevent kids from opening ovens, dishwashers and toilets.

3. Fireplace gates. Living room fireplaces are a common fixture in many homes. The preventative measure can be a great way to ease the initial fears of people viewing the home.

4. Smoke detectors. Make sure you install one near every bedroom and in common areas throughout the house. Consider adding a carbon monoxide detector as well.

5. Electrical outlet covers. These plastic inserts for electrical outlets are an inexpensive and easy fix that can go a long way in helping a potential buyer visualize their child playing or living in that space.

6. Curtain/blinds cord cleats. Install these cleats next to window and wrap around them the cord used to draw the curtains or blinds.

Each of these are subtle and inexpensive ways to amp up the level of interest home buyers with kids may have in your home.