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The curb appeal of a home refers to the value of its exterior. If a home has curb appeal, that means it is attractive to the eye and inspires confidence. Great curb appeal helps sell a home faster and for more money because of the positive affect it has on buyers.

Unfortunately, a lot of homeowners overlook their home’s curb appeal when putting it on the market. This is a huge mistake. Not putting effort into making sure your home’s exterior is appealing to buyer’s can cost you the sale and drive down the perceived value of your home.

Keep reading to find out the reasons why curb appeal is an important factor in selling your home:

1. It’s the first thing buyers see

Your home’s curb appeal is the first thing buyers see when they drive up to the property. Buyers immediately start assessing the exterior and landscaping, forming a knee-jerk first impression. This initial reaction is very powerful. It instantly sets the tone of the tour and will have an effect on how buyers perceive the rest of the property. If their first impression is a negative one, then the rest of the home will suffer for it.

2. It reflects the maintenance of the home

The state of a home’s exterior usually matches the interior. If the grass is long or patchy, the paint on the house is faded or peeling, and there are cracks in the driveway, then buyers are going to be very wary of what other kinds of maintenance issues could be awaiting them inside and in places that they can’t see. These issues instantly translate to dollar signs and stress for home buyers, so it’s likely they will move on to the competition to avoid them both.

3. Bad curb appeal can be a deal breaker for some buyers

There are many buyers who won’t even bother going inside to see the rest of the home if they aren’t impressed with the curb appeal. If the exterior is unimpressive, buyers won’t be intrigued to see what lies beyond it. Remember that buyers will see all the houses around it, too, as they drive through the neighborhood and even as they are walking up to it. There will be direct comparisons all around, so if yours doesn’t stand out in a positive way, it could greatly hinder a sale.

4. It helps your home stand out from the competition

Bland or bad curb appeal makes a home forgettable. If yours looks great with a beautiful green lawn, colorful landscaping, and a freshly painted exterior, it’s going to stand out from all of the other listings that aren’t putting as much effort into it.

5. It increases the perceived value of the home

Small details, like dead patches of grass or old gutters, reduce the perceived value of a property just as much as larger details. Buyers look at everything as they are walking up to the front door, so if the curb appeal has any issues, they are going to notice them. Any problems will register in a buyer’s mind as reducing the value of the home.

Which do you think seems more valuable to a buyer: a home that has clearly been well taken care of over the years or one that is littered with maintenance issues?

A place you and your family can call HOME for years and years to come! You’ll feel right at home from the moment you walk in the door of this 2010 built 2-storey in Harvest Ridge. Open concept main floor with large, FUNCTIONAL kitchen with corner pantry and GRANITE countertops. Breakfast nook with patio doors and a more formal dining room with large window. The living room features a PELLET STOVE to make things even more cozy! Move upstairs and you’ll find FOUR bedrooms, plus a bonus room. Master suite features a great 4pc ensuite and walk in closet! Plenty of space for a KING SIZE BED! 3 good size bedrooms are great for kids and guests alike! Bonus room area is perfectly suited for smaller TV room, homework space, play area or home office! Basement is unfinished and ready for development! TRIPLE CAR GARAGE is every man’s dream! Plenty of space for cars and toys! WEST facing yard is fully fenced and landscaped. Large deck with built in hot tub! Great neighborhood close to parks and trails!

You can find the link at realtor.ca here!

https://www.realtor.ca/Residential/Single-Family/17698819/5-Heron-LI-Spruce-Grove-Alberta-T7X0E8-Harvest-Ridge

This unique bungalow is a diamond in disguise! HUGE pie shape lot with back alley access give you the option to either put in another garage and/or add more RV space! The front drive is already 2+ vehicles deep to put your RV there too! Large entry way takes you two steps up to either the Living room or Kitchen! Yes the living/dining room is massive AND its open to the kitchen for company conversation! 3 bedrooms up with a full bath and a 2pc unsuited! Down is a 4th huge bedroom/crafts room plus a 5th bedroom/large office. 3 pc Bath just off of the Family room with a wood stove AND a dry bar! Yes, there is a cold storage there too! Handicap accessories there as well. Out the aback door is a 18×16′ patio AND RAISED GARDENS!! Fruit trees, Saskatoon’s and Strawberries too! Shingles and Hot water take are approximately 5yrs old, newer carpet downstairs, newer built-in-dishwasher and all new toilets! Here is your large home on your large lot that you have been always looking for!

You can find the link for realtor.ca below!

https://www.realtor.ca/Residential/Single-Family/17689167/7-Burlington-PL-Spruce-Grove-Alberta-T7X1E1-Brookwood

This beautiful 67 acres is as nice as you will find to develop into a country residential subdivision. The property is gently rolling and perfect for walk-out basements. It has approximately 50% tree coverage. There is a Proposed Outline Plan completed by an Engineering Company that lays out 15 lots, approximately 3 acres in size. There is also a Preliminary Groundwater Feasibility Assessment report completed. These lots can be used for the construction of onsite built homes and or moved on modular/mobile homes. The natural setting is very appealing to people who love mature trees, ravines, birds, wildlife and privacy. Paved roads all the way. Located 12 miles west of Stony Plain only 1 mile west of Cougar Creek Golf Course. GST maybe applicable.

You can find the link to realtor.ca below!

https://www.realtor.ca/Residential/Vacant-Land/17689214/53227-Range-Road-25-Rural-Parkland-County-Alberta-T7Z1X9-None

NEW PRICE!

Gorgeous home close to town! This home is the perfect oasis, just 5 minutes out of Stony Plain. This modern home is perfect for a growing family. Amazing vaulted ceilings give this home a grand element. The living room flows right through to the kitchen and dining area, making future entertaining a breeze! Hand-scraped hardwood flooring and new carpet throughout this open floor plan. 3 roomy bedrooms upstairs, including a huge master with an amazing updated ensuite complete with a huge 2 person Jacuzzi tub, and walk-in closet. Enjoy easy access to your backyard with a south facing walk-out basement. The house also features a high efficiency hot water tank furnace, and newer appliances.

You can find the link to realtor.ca below!

https://www.realtor.ca/Residential/Single-Family/17685982/3-53214-RGE-RD-13-RD-Rural-Parkland-County-Alberta-T7Z1Y2-Leeward-Estates

Thinking of selling your home and want to protect your investment and make the most you possibly can?  Take care of these top 8 items to put your home in the best possible position for a quick and effortless sale.

1. First Impressions make all the difference!  Repaint or replace the front door, making sure it opens, closes and locks easily.  Remove dirt and cobwebs around light fixtures and the siding.  Trim up any landscaping.  Tighten up any loose handrails.
2. Clean and de-clutter.  If you don’t need it, donate it or toss it.   If you don’t know where to start, contact a home staging company.  Scrub the floors clean.  Repaint or touch up the walls.  If you have a small home, remove excess furniture to make the rooms feel spacious.  Keep it light and bright.  Open draperies.  Get rid of dated or broken window treatments.
3. The smell of your home can make or break a deal.  A clean home smells good. Don’t try to cover up smells with candles and plug in air fresheners…buyers instantly wonder what you are covering up.  A better solution is to let the fresh air in and clean your home.  Launder bedding and any pet beds.  Clean the carpets.
4. If it is broken, fix it.  Simple broken items like leaky faucets, broken window panes or windows that won’t open should be fixed.
5. Floor coverings.  Clean, fresh floor coverings are best.  For hard surfaces, make sure they are clean. Make sure they are freshly vacuumed and cleaned – even if they are dated.
6. Windows.  Let the light in!  Clean the windows – inside and outside.  If there is peeling and chipping paint, scrap it, prime it and paint it.  Make sure all the windows are able to be opened. WD-40 can be used to loosen up hinges.
7. Paint.  Fresh paint cleans up many walls and makes the house smell clean. Keep your color choices neutral – whites, beiges and greys are best.
8. Staging.  Once you have gone through this list, consider hiring a stager or invite J.S. Realty over to walk through your home to recommend removal or addition of furniture and personal items to make rooms feel more appealing to buyers. You only have one chance to make a first impression, whether that is pictures that are taken of your home or a buyer’s first walk through the door.

Plan ahead and put a little work into it to get your home ready to sell. You’ll be pleased with the results and can thank us later!

You’ve probably seen either on social media or the news in recent days the coverage about the Alberta man who drove the ZAMBONI through the TIM HORTONS  drive through?!? Well, fun and interesting fact: That Tim Hortons is located RIGHT NEXT DOOR to our office!!! We got a first hand view of “that most Canadian thing!”

If you missed it, you can click on the link below for the article!

Alberta man pulls up to Tim Hortons drive-thru in his Zamboni: ‘It was the most Canadian thing’