If you are in buying or selling market of real estate, you have most likely heard buzz word "curb appeal". What is it and why is it important?

First, lets start with what it is. Curb appeal is quite simply rate of attractiveness your home projects to viewers from street. Why is this important? As definition states, it is ultimate first impression. You may have an immaculate, luxurious interior but without high curb appeal, few will bother to step inside to see it. This is even more important when selling on your own because you don't have a realtor to hype interior as worth a viewing. Is it worth trouble to invest, if you don't have good curb appeal? The payback value on exterior upgrades to your property range from 49% for landscaping improvements to 62% for exterior home improvements, such as painting. Next to kitchen and bath, these are highest payback ratios for home improvements and are well worth initial investment. In order of highest payback value, we have provided some tips to help you achieve higher curb appeal for your home:

Exterior Painting

Painting exterior may appear daunting and not worth effort, but research shows that it results in greatest return on time and money for exterior improvements. As a guideline, when choosing color, a long and low house looks most appealing with colours that emphasize vertical elements such as doors and shutters, while taller more narrow homes should contrast its horizontal elements likes fascias and gutters. Window boxes are a nice touch as well. If painting is out of questions, bare minimum improvements should be to: Wash full exterior to clear it from dirt and cobwebs. Renting a high pressure washer is best. Fix any loose, missing, or damaged shutters. Clean, paint, or replace mailbox, doorknobs, and street numbers. Windows Especially with a freshly painted or washed exterior, dirty windows will stand out like a sore thumb, and will date them past their true age.

Tips for cleaning windows - Do not clean windows while they are in direct sunlight. Your cleaning solution will dry too fast. Using a 100% cotton cleaning cloth, dip cloth in cleaning solution and wring out excess before wiping window to loosen dirt. Using a squeegee, start each stroke in a dry spot, and squeegee in a pattern from top to bottom or side to side. If you are cleaning outside and inside of window, alternate pattern on each side (i.e. top to bottom on inside and side to side on outside). This will make it easier to identify which side any streaks are on. Keep your squeegee blade dry by wiping it with a cleaning cloth between strokes. Nicks in squeegee blade will cause streaks. Replace when needed. If you do not have a squeegee, newspaper will dry freshly washed windows, whereas papertowel or cotton will leave lint behind. Cool clear water is choice of solution by most professional window washers. For very dirty windows, add 2 tablespoons of vinegar per gallon of water.