Belle of the block: Curb appeal is crucial in Calgary's changing real estate market
Yvonne JefferyCalgary Herald
Never mind the vernal equinox and visions of frolicking calves and budding leaves. Spring in Calgary has to be the harshest month when it comes to curb appeal, whether we're selling our homes or simply living in them.
Gone are the clean white snows of winter, and far in the future are tulips and daffodils. Instead, the grass out front is crisp and brown, and our homes are wearing a drab overcoat of a winter's worth of dust and grime. Not to mention those green front doors.
"In 2006, it didn't matter if your house had a pink door, it sold," says Neil Lauzon, a Realtor with Calgary's Remax House of Real Estate. "Now, buyers are being very picky. If it's not your home, it's the other 14 that are within $10,000 or $20,000 of your house with the same square footage."
A few short seasons ago, it wouldn't have mattered that buyers saw a green front door as tired and dated-- but it does now.
"Last year, we had limited inventory available," says Calgary Real Estate Board president Ed Jensen.
"This year, our total inventory is up. What it speaks to is more selection for buyers than there was last year. As such, it's important that the sellers understand that they're in a different marketplace than last year."
Buyers can now take the time to find their dream home, for example, instead of having to snatch up the first available place in their price range before someone else beats them to it.
"Sellers need to present their home in the best possible light . . . and they need to price their home accordingly, in keeping with local market conditions (in their community)," says Jensen.
Putting on a Fresh Face
Curb appeal, says Lauzon, isn't going to sell your property if the price, location or amenities aren't right for the buyer, but it can help you achieve both a faster selling time and a better price.
"As soon as they drive up and see grass two feet high, they assume the whole house isn't well maintained," he warns.
Shannan Martindale, of LimeLight Home Staging, works with Lauzon as both a certified Canadian staging professional and a buyer's agent. "You want to create a series of impressions for people," she says of that first look that visitors get of your home. "Image is everything, and creating a positive first impression is key to selling your home.
"By creating curb appeal, you create an emotional connection before the buyer even enters the home. Try to create a message about what you want the buyer to know about your house and your neighbourhood."
She suggests painting the trim and the door if they're in need of it; replacing mailboxes, lighting and hardware such as door handles; cleaning or shovelling your walk or deck; switching on exterior house and garage lights; ensuring keys work smoothly in locks; adding fresh mulch to the garden beds; and re-edging the beds and sidewalks.Going Beyond Cosmetics
"I've gone into some very expensive homes that had very basic things wrong, such as doorknobs that are loose or not working properly," says Darcy McGregor, home inspection expert and owner of Calgary's Home-Alyze. "It might sound cosmetic, but the cosmetics are important. If, for example, you don't keep up with painting or staining your window trim, you'll be replacing those windows."
He adds that it's also important to ensure your steps are level, your sidewalk is in good shape and your trees or bushes are pruned.
"Those are little things that make you feel more comfortable when you're coming into a house," he says. "If I see that everything is clean and organized, it often means that people have looked after the house."
As for the green doors, Martindale cautions against taking the usual television show advice to paint your door red to create punch. "That's a common mistake," she says. "You'll see this green trim around a red door, and it just doesn't work."
So figure out a great colour that complements the hues already on your home and its trim -- but avoid green.