Repair & Improve

Turn Green into Green

Enhance Curb Appeal to Add Value to Your Home

Homeowners with houses on the market know how challenging today’s real estate market can be.  They -- and their houses need an extra edge to stand out and get a buyers attention.  But how can you do that without investing a lot of cash?  It’s actually very simple.  You can turn green into green by improving your curb appeal.  It’s one of the most cost-effective improvements you can  make.  Real estate agents confirm that there is no bigger sales edge than a home with top-notch curb appeal.  It's the first impression a home makes, so the exterior and landscaping needs to attract attention and interest.  Considering that some 74 percent of buyers today preview homes on the Internet (according to the National Association of Realtors), curb appeal is even more important than ever before.

Landscaping is one of the easiest ways for homeowners to quickly increase a home’s value with little cost.  Even just planting colorful flowers, grooming a lush lawn and adding greenery and potted plants creates a drastic transformation and higher perceived value.  In one weekend, you can tackle the weeds and fertilize yourlawn and flowerbeds to make a beautiful enhancement that will last for months.  Spectracide® and Schultz®, available at major retailers, offers trusted, high-quality products for every lawn care challenge – with reliable results.

"When you're selling a home in today's economy, you're probably watching every penny in the household budget while still trying to make your home look good for potential buyers,” says Jill Mattos Divisional Vice President of Spectracide® products.  “Improving the look of your lawn and flowerbeds with Spectracide® and Schultz® products give you great bang for your buck.  The products are value-priced, but offer high-quality, long-lasting solutions that will make your lawn look beautiful and help give your home an edge in the marketplace.

A recent RealEstate.com survey of 500 sellers and 100 real estate agents across the country found both groups agreed that enhancing a lawn or landscape was the top priority for getting a house ready to sell.  Half of buying decisions are based on curb appeal, according to the National Association of Realtors, and it is at curbside where homeowners’ efforts need to start.  To get the lawn and landscape flourishing, it is important to use the appropriate products to control insects and disease, keep the soil moist and the grass thick, dense and green.

•This summer, fertilize the lawn with lawn fertilizer to maintain the healthy, green color.  In the late fall, use winterizer to encourage root growth, create earlier spring greening and improve the lawn’s resistance to disease, weeds and pests the next year.

•Use a weed killer such as Spectracide® Weed Stop® plus Crabgrass Killer to remove unsightly weeds from driveways, sidewalks and flowerbeds

•Use Spectracide® Triazicide® Once and Done!™ Insect Killer to control insects that damage summer lawns

•Create container gardens using Schultz® MoisturePlus® Potting Mix and bright flowers to add color and style to the front porch.   This will help the house stand out in the crowd.

•Use Schultz® Mulch with Weed Stop® to give a finished look in all of your landscape beds.

There are some other simple and inexpensive things homeowners should do to improve the curb appeal of their home when they’re trying to sell it:

•First, give it a good scrub with a powerwasher to remove cobwebs and dirt.  Clean the windows inside and out.  Remove screens to show off the windows and let light flow into the home.

•Trim trees and shrubs that overhang the house and hide it from view.

•Store items such as hoses, garden tools, children’s toys and sports equipment in the garage to give the home a polished look

With a few simple projects and trusted products from Spectracide® and Schultz®, you can have a beautiful lawn and distinctive curb appeal that will turn the sign in your front yard from “FOR SALE” into “SOLD”.

 

 

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