The experts say a house should have curb appeal. You hear it all the time, and they even have a television show devoted to it - but what exactly does curb appeal mean?  Curb appeal means that when a prospective buyer drives by a Del Mar home for a look the home looks enticing enough for them to stop the car for a closer look and collect the homes real estate agent information to set up a visit to the property.  The National Association of Realtors says curb appeal sells 49 percent of all houses.  So, how do you achieve curb appeal? The following are a few quick and easy ways to create curb appeal.

First, touch up the front of the house. This may include power washing the walkways, driveway, and siding.  This would including washing the mildew from porch columns and rails. Put a new coat of paint wood siding and patch and paint worn or faded stucco , keep the hedges trimmed neatly, plant plenty of flowers (use bright colors), and use lots of dark mulch that you should water regularly. Repaint faded fixtures, Replace and paint the stairs to the porch. Make sure the lawn is mowed once a week and watered regularly. Dead-head the flowers. Pick up trash not only in front of your house but in front of your neighbors' houses, and definitely wash the windows. The results of this will be seen clearly in the number of prospective buyers visiting your Del Mar home.

A lot of ugly houses during the recent hot market, but you can't assume that your ugly house will. And in today's market you can never take that risk, but don't go overboard trying to pretty up. Remember, at first contact, it is not how good the house feels but how good it looks. You are trying to get them into the house and once you get them through the door, you better make sure that whats inside looks as good as whats outside.  A good looking Del Mar Real Estate property will almost sell it's self but you always want to get as many prospective buyers to see it - and as many offers as possible.  A house with great curb appeal will do just that.