Sign-up and post on Iberkshires today.It's Free!
Already a member? Log In
34°  H- 59%
The Berkshires online guide to events, news and Berkshire County community information.
Wednesday December 3, 2008
 Make us your homepage!
 

Daily Digest

School Closing
Conte Middle School in North Adams will be closed Thursday, December 4, as the investigation into a mercury spill continues.

The North Adams School Committee this evening at 7 will be held in the City Council chambers.
Light'em Up!
North Adams kicks off the holiday season with its annual treelighting on Thursday, Dec. 4, at 5:30 p.m.

Pittsfield lights its tree on Friday, Dec. 5, at 6 at Park Square.
Like to Write?
Passionate about local sports? Into the environment? Obsessive about local meetings?

Let your neighbors know what's going on in Berkshire County! iBerkshires accepts submissions about local events, news and opinion pieces. There are openings for freelance work, too, for qualified candidates. E-mail tdaniels@iberkshires.com to find out more.
Got Flu?
Track its spread through Google!
How much is heating oil this week?
How to get heating help
Win a restaurant gift certificate.
Need to contact iBerkshires? Here's how.

Obituaries

Dorothy Duchardt, 92
Dorothy M. Mazza, 66
Laurie F. Mundy, 52
Mildred M. Walden, 92
Robert A. Meier Jr., 79
More obituaries

What's Playing


A television-hero pup (John Travolta) thinks he's a real superdog in the Disney film "Bolt."
Movie schedules and times

Sales Fliers

 
 

Columnists

That's Life

Dealing with Dirty Laundry

Independent Investor

Economy Will Dictate Agenda, Not President

Pick of the Week

Staind

Sports 'N Stuff

NFL Midseason Report Card



Sawxheads gets a mention in CNN Money News

Other Stuff

Federal government has 8,000 job openings
The president-elect's new Web site
www.change.gov

 Search: 
 for    

Related Stories

 
Printer Friendly Version
   Recommend this story to a friend

Home Sellers Yield High Returns Investing in Curb Appeal

- July 09, 2007

Photo Courtesy of ARA content
When selling a home it pays to perk up where you park.

“A remodeled kitchen and bath can help sell a home, but curb appeal is what gets buyers through the door,” says Betty Jane Garrett, a licensed agent with Paradigm Realty in Oklahoma City. “If they don’t like what they see from the street chances are they won’t waste time going inside.”

An old worn out garage door, even on the cutest house, can change “Honey, stop the car,” into “Keep driving,” in an instant.

Realtors in a nationwide survey say replacing your garage door prior to listing your home can increase its curb appeal and the asking price -- anywhere from one to four percent. That's no surprise considering homeowner demand for more storage space has made three-car garages an architectural standard, not to mention, a major design focal point.

If you are thinking of upgrading your home’s garage appeal you may want to consider something more than a standard steel panel door. According to “Professional Builder” magazine, designer garage doors are one of the "50 Must-Have Features for Today's Home Buyers."

“We had a seller last fall who replaced existing 70s style flush panel garage doors with Clopay carriage house style doors and it changed the entire look of the house,” adds Garrett. “It sold for full asking price the first day on the market and the owners made a profit. The interior had been upgraded -- but it was the exterior that the buyers fell in love with at first sight.”

Garrett offers these additional suggestions to help take your home from “for sale” to “sold.”

1. Paint the front door a bright color. Nothing says welcome home like a cheerful front entry. It’s an easy affordable way to freshen up a paint scheme without having to repaint the entire exterior.

2. Change out-dated light fixtures -- or add lights if you don't have some already. Light up your doorways, driveway and walkways. Better to have more lights at lower wattages than one, very bright one. Spotlights angled to highlight trees and bushes create a dramatic nighttime effect. Solar lights that charge during the day are easy to install yourself.

3. Mulch. It makes landscaping and beds look tidy, crisp and well maintained and helps minimize weeding.

4. Plant flowers. This is always money well spent because it adds charm and life to any exterior. Even if you don’t have a green thumb, invest in some planters and have a local nursery fill them with annuals that thrive in your climate and place them at major entry points.

5. Re-surface your driveway. Instead of a black top or smooth concrete, consider stained or stamped concrete patterns. This can do wonders for curb appeal.

To obtain a free Ideas & Inspirations book and learn more about how you can transform your home in less than a day with a new garage door log onto www.clopaydoor.com or call (800) 225-6729.

Courtesy of ARA content
Your Comments
Post Comment
No Comments


iBerkshires.com Text Ads
www.mountainone.com
www.iberkshires.com
www.iberkshires.com
www.berkshirejobs.com
Advertise on iBerkshires.com



Essentials
Berkshire Nightlife
Berkshire Photos
Berkshire Wallpaper
Borrow Movies
Class Reunion Page
Columnists
Dannyoart.com
Movie Times
Obituaries
Randy Trabold

Enter your email address below to receive our FREE iBerkshires.com Newsletter

| Home | A & E | Automotive | Business | Community News | Dining | Lodging & Travel |
| Real Estate | Schools | Sports & Outdoors | Berkshires Weather | Weddings | Berkshires Map |
Advertise | Recommend This Page | Help
Contact Us | Privacy Policy| User Agreement
Execution Time: 299 ms