Curb Appeal: Does Your House Pass The Test?

Its summer time and no better time than now to give your house the ultimate test: Does it have curb appeal?

People often think that curb appeal is only something real estate agents and home sellers have to be concerned with, but besides viewing your house from your neighbor's perspective, checking on your home's curb appeal could also save you some money down the road in costly repairs.

Taking the test is easy. Simply walk across the street and look at your house from a couple of different angles. You might want to take a pen and notebook along as you check out the following, starting with, naturally, the curb:

1.) Are there weeds growing out of your concrete curbing or sidewalk? Solution: spray or pull.

2.) Has your sidewalk or driveway grown a discolored and slippery layer of mold? Solution: power wash.

3.) Are your flowerbeds overgrown with weeds? Solution: weed, then a thick layer of mulch.

4.) Are your shrubs overgrown or getting tall and spindly? Solution: pruning shears.

5.) Are your gutters sagging or growing poplar tree sprouts? Solution: a ladder, a bucket and a pair of gloves.

6.) Are any shingles slipping out of place on your roof? Solution: call a roofer.

7.) Is the finish on your front door fading? Solution: re-coat.

8.) Are blisters appearing in your paint? Solution: scrape and touch-up.

9.) Is your house number still visible for guests, deliveries and emergency services? Solution: new Arts & Crafts numbers.

10.) Does your porch or yard look like a storage unit? Solution: clean it up, fix it up or store it out of sight.

Good Luck!

- Bruce