Increasing The Value Of Your Home Tip #2: Flowers

Having great curb appeal is a quick and easy way to increase the value of your house.

Even if you are not planning to sell, it’s important to think about what buyers might like. If buyers like it, your appraiser will like it and that can make all the difference between a positive and negative equity situation.

You may not have the money for new stucco or siding but you can still spruce up the outside of your house cheaply and effectively. How? With flowers and a bit of simple landscaping. Here’s a list of things to consider when you’re making up your action plan.

• When you cut your lawn, don’t trim it too short. Longer grass holds water longer and looks thicker and fuller. A healthy looking lawn is very inviting.
• Create flower beds around the front of the house or clean up existing ones. If you don’t have a yard, window boxes will do fine. Geraniums, mums, peonies, daisies, snapdragons, pansies and poppies are all bright, cheerful and relatively low maintenance.
• If you have a rusty chain link fence or some damaged siding, consider planting some ivy to pretty things up.
• Make the front door the focal point of the house. It creates a warm environment and makes potential buys or appraisers feel more connected to the home. Giving it a new coat of paint is very in expensive and can do wonders. If you screen door is showing wear, consider painting it or, if it is in the budget, replacing it with a new one.
• Hide your trash cans. These are an eyesore should only be visible when they are on the curb for garbage day. The rest of the time, they should be kept in the garage or around the side of your house.

These things may seem small and not all that important but every little helps when you’re trying to get a refinance for your unmanageable mortgage!