Send Your Neighbors Packing

Homeowners, you are an important factor in the sale of the homes around you. On more than one occasion I've had clients tell me as we're pulling into a driveway that they weren't interested in looking at the interior of a home. The reason? "The house next door looks scary." You might wonder why you should concern yourself about this, since you don't have any plans to move. But move you will, when the time comes. And when the time comes, you'll want not only your neighbor's help, you'll also want the property values to be at their highest.

Remember the movie Pay it Forward? Someone did something nice for someone figuring that someday the favor would be returned. In the movie the idea caught on, till everyone was doing little and large favors for others. Like in the movie, you can do somethings to help your neighbors, all the while doing something to help yourself. You can make sure that your home helps your neighbor sell theirs. Here are some helping hints:

1. Allow a small directional sign to be placed in your yard. Some people (some 9% of home buyers) find homes while out driving around, so those signs are important. I place them in an area that won't interfere with yard maintenance. And I send a small gift card as a thank you.

2. Keep the trash cans behind the fence or in the backyard. Some buyers are "put off" when they see cans aren't put away for fear of what else might be neglected.

3. Keep the yard maintained. They say that curb appeal is worth $20,000 in a home's selling value. I am convinced that there is also value in a neighborhoods' (and specifically a neighbor's) well kept yards.

4. Park cars in the driveway or better yet, in the garage. Lots of cars, especially in the street, makes the neighborhood appear crowded. This is a particular problem in cul-de-sacs (also called courts) where parking in front of homes is reduced by the circular pattern of the street. Often times people will simply park in the street, cutting off emergency vehicles and diminishing the look of the neighborhood.

5. Keep toys and sports equipment out of the street and off the sidewalks. Again, clear areas make the neighborhood look large and inviting.

It may seem crazy, but those small things can mean the difference in selling and not, especially in slow markets. And they are the difference in home prices from one neighborhood to the next. If your neighborhood homes don't have the resale value of others in the area, drive around and compare yours to theirs. If you need help or advice, TALK to TOP.

www.TALKtoTOP.com

Al Stickland

Riley Jackson Real Estate