Real Estate: Check Your House’s Curb Appeal

How does your house look from the street? That is where prospective buyers will be when they first see your home; and, that is where they will form that all-important first impression. Stand at the curb in front of your house and note what you see.

Remove any clutter in your yard.
Repair cracked or uneven driveway or walkway surfaces.
If your lawn has bald spots, apply some top dressing and re-seed. Prune trees and shrubs of dead wood; weed and mulch flower beds.
Consider buying some flower-filled planters to enhance the eye appeal of your property.
Make sure your lawn is mowed regularly and ensure that the composter area is tidy.
Are your windows and walls clean?
Does your front door need paint?
Ensure your eaves and downspouts are clear of debris and in good repair.
Are your backyard deck and walkways clean? If not, use a power washer and do any necessary painting, staining or sealing.
If you have a swimming pool, are the deck and pool clean?
Do all outside lights work? Replace any burned out bulbs, and clean fixtures of dirt and cobwebs.
Do the windows and exterior doors need recaulking? Even at 6-7 years of age, the caulking may be dried out and in need of replacement.
When you have completed the curb appeal inspection, carefully check the rest of your home’s exterior.

Will your roof and chimney pass inspection?

If you are uneasy about climbing onto your roof, you can inspect most items from the ground using binoculars. Otherwise, be careful when working or moving about on your roof. Unless roof repair is a simple matter of applying new caulking, you will probably need the services of a professional.

Check the general condition of your roof. Sagging sections, curled shingles, and corrosion on metal roofing mean it is time for repair or replacement.
Both masonry and metal chimneys need to be straight and structurally sound.
All roofs undergo stress from snow and rain loads so it is possible a truss or rafter may become damaged, resulting in a noticeable depression. A professional should do this inexpensive repair.

Examine Your Walls

The condition of your exterior walls directly affects the look and curb appeal of your home.

Replace old caulking. You may have to cut or scrape away old caulking to get a good seal.
Is your exterior paint looking good? Be sure to get competitive bids if you hire professional painters.
You can clean vinyl siding. Defects or damage to it and to metal siding usually means replacement.
Stucco can be repaired but some skill is required to blend patches with existing stucco.

Garage

Get rid of the broken tools, old car parts, discarded bicycles, empty paint cans and the hundreds of other useless items that accumulate in garages. Again, you want a clutter-free zone. Use cleaning solutions to remove oil stains from the floor.

Homeowner’s Inspection Checklist

This practical, easy-to-follow guide for homeowners will help you identify common house problems and deal with them. In it, you will find illustrated how-to tips offering effective solutions for every room of your house. The book is available from CMHC at a cost of $19.95. For more information visit their site.

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