Many people, particularly those that are new at flipping properties, or home staging down play the importance of curb appeal because they don't want to spend money on the outside of the home. Do not make this mistake. Creating a beautiful looking exterior does not have to cost a fortune. In fact, with a few simple changes you will have buyers tripping over themselves to get in the front door to see what else your property has to offer.



The first thing that you need to do may be obvious, but clean up and do general maintenance. Make sure there are no garbage cans sitting by the front door, or loose patio stones. Everything should be in good repair, and be clean. If necessary, rent a pressure washer and get all the dirt and grime off the siding to give the property some sparkle and shine.

A fresh coat of paint for trim or shutters is not expensive and will go a long way to making a property pop. Choose colors that are fresh and draw the eye towards features such as windows and the front door. If it's really needed, painting the entire house may cost a bit more but will be a worthwhile investment in the long run.

The least expensive and most impressive way to add curb appeal is with landscaping, and you can often do these simple jobs yourself. Prune any overgrown shrubs and trees, making them look neat and tidy. Remove any weeds from the garden and plant a few bright flowers along a walk way or by the front door in order to make the home look welcome and inviting.

In order to flip property quickly, investing a small amount into increasing the curb appeal will pay off in the end when your property sells faster and for the dollar amount you are asking.

By Karen Schaefer, Founder of Simple Appeal, Inc. And APSD ? The Association of Property Scene Designers. To learn more about staging, marketing and selling houses quickly go to www.onlinestagingtraining.com for a free 30 day trial.