Addition By Subtraction Just like staging a home’s interior is mostly about subtraction, not addition, improving a home’s curb appeal is usually about paring back. Most common task: cutting back overgrown landscaping that obscures the home’s curb appeal. In this case, removing this Fern Hill duplex’s window awnings (above) was a 2-for-1: 1) it punched up the...Read More
Curb Appeal Two-for-One It’s hard to improve a home’s curb appeal. But not impossible. In general, there are three strategies: One. Addition. Strategic landscaping — specifically, adding shrubs and evergreens — can be a very effective way to frame a home and make it look bigger and more impressive. Variation #2: adding shutters, more neutral...Read More
In general, I’m a HUGE fan of bay windows: there’s no better way to open up a room, admit light, and punch up a home’s curb appeal. But, it has to be the right home. I don’t know for sure, but I’ve got a hunch that the bay window in this 1924 South Minneapolis home...Read More
When You’ve Got It (Curb Appeal), Flaunt It I don’t believe I’ve seen another example where a dormer (white) contrasts so dramatically with the rest of the home (dark green for the trim and 2nd floor shakes, light green for the first floor stucco). But the effect works! Curb appeal is inherently subjective, but this home...Read More
Compromised Curb Appeal It’s a tough call: do you recommend that a prospective home Seller replace a still-functioning — but aesthetically challenged — capital item? As they say, it all depends: –on the price point; –on the condition of the rest of the home; –on how large the item looms in the home’s marketing and overall...Read More
When One Showing = Three The evidence is mixed about whether a quick jury verdict is good or bad for the defendant. But in residential real estate, there’s no such ambiguity: a quick showing is invariably bad for the owner, while a long one is very, very good. In fact, the longer the better. I...Read More
