It can be the difference between selling a house in a few weeksor a few months
Pedro Arrais
Sun
New homeowner Christina Stevens says she liked this house in Colwood, just west of Victoria, as soon as she saw it. ‘I just knew that if the inside was as nice as the outside, that was the house for us,’ she says. Photograph by : Photo by Ray Smith, Special to the Vancouver Sun
When it comes to choosing a home, first impressions count.
The decision whether to look inside a house is usually based on a quick drive-by assessment.
If a house has curb appeal, say realtors, buyers are more likely to want a look inside the house.
Curb appeal, like personal taste, is not easily defined. In general, it is a blend of architecture, design elements, colour, landscaping and other features that make a house attractive at first glance. Curb appeal can mean the difference between a house selling in a few weeks or sitting for months.
Heather Wilde, a realtor with 30 years experience, sums up what curb appeal means to her: “When I see an attractive house I think, ‘Ah, there is somebody I would like to know!’ I want to get inside to get to know them better,” says Wilde.
Her advice on creating curb appeal? “Put on a little lipstick and shine your shoes,” says Wilde.
Christina Stevens, 31, and her partner Sylvain Perron, 36, had been looking for a house seriously for a month before they drove by a house on Pelican Drive in the Royal Bay development in Colwood.
According to Stevens, the house was still under construction and the landscaping had yet to be installed. Still she remembers thinking, “That’s the house I want to see.” Without even a For Sale sign outside, she was confident it was the house for them.
“I just knew,” says Stevens, “that if the inside was as nice as the outside, that was the house for us.”
So, what do the experts say will add to a property’s curb appeal?
ARCHITECTURE
A house’s initial design serves as the base to all the other elements, says Steve Akers, an architect with Stuart Howard Architects Inc. in Vancouver. Akers says the heritage or Arts and Crafts style popular these days has a timeless appeal because it has been around for the last 100 years. He suggests homeowners choose the best materials — such as siding and trim boards — that they can afford.
“Finishes done poorly affect the visual appeal of a house,” says Akers.
He also suggests that, if you have the height above the front door, adding a transom — a window over a door — adds visual appeal.
A transom window over the front door will also improve the quality of light inside the house.
STYLE
“The style needs to flow,” says Victoria design consultant Mary Kehler. “It needs to flow in with the surroundings instead of standing out,” she says.
Kehler suggests that a house needs a sense of balance, both in the architectural style and with the landscape. Kehler is fond of blending rock faces into the house if she can because it creates a natural ambience. “The house can be too sterile without it,” she says.
LIGHTING
“Don’t make your home look like a landing strip,” warns Elaine Richardson of Illuminations Lighting Solutions. She is referring to houses with too many dim lights trying unsuccessfully to illuminate a pathway.
“A few well-placed lights are much more effective,” she says. According to Richardson, a simple way to give any house a “quiet wow” is the installation of a four-to-five inch pot light to highlight the front door.
“The idea is to highlight beauty without being garish,” says Richardson.
LANDSCAPING
Duane Ensing of Landscape Solutions in Victoria advises owners to incorporate “exterior architecture” elements into their new home.
“In the transition from landscape to home, it helps to create visual appeal by varying heights and introducing screening for the plants to be displayed against,” says Ensing.
If there is money in the budget, he advises that homeowners consider water features and rock in the garden. It is also important to take into account how big the plants you choose will become when they are mature.
PAINT
“Colour causes an emotional response,” says Victoria designer Robyn Bryson. She suggests that the colour of a house does not need to “shout” to be noticed.
“You can make a statement about grace and elegance with restraint and simplicity,” she says.
Kehler advises using contrasting colours to highlight exterior doors.
GARAGE DOOR/ENTRYWAY
Unless their house is situated in Oak Bay with a rear lane, most homeowners have to contend with a garage door facing the roadway.
Builder Gordon English of Jenco Construction says the best way to soften the appearance of the garage door is by painting it the same colour as the walls. Another strategy is to build a front verandah past the garage.
“The eye is drawn to the closest thing from the curb,” says English, “so the house becomes the focal point, not the garage door.”
He also advocates a curved walkway with steps to create some drama and interest.
© The Vancouver Sun 2006
