7 Simple Ways to Add Instant Curb Appeal
Let's Talk Curb Appeal. When staging to sell, your home’s exterior is just as important - in some ways, even more important - than the interior. Curb appeal is crucial, as the front of your house is the first thing buyers see, so be sure to put your best foot forward. Mulched landscaping, a cheery welcome mat, and a tasteful wreath give the right first impression! Here are a few of our stagers’ favorite ways to add instant curb appeal: Be sure there is a clear view of the house from the street. Trim back any overgrown trees or hedges that may be blocking the view of the front facade. Buyers will not purchase what they cannot see! Make the most of your outdoor space! Mow the lawn in the spring, summer and fall; rake all leaves in the fall; shovel all walkways and driveways in the winter. Update your house numbers to make sure they are visible from the front and in good condition (as well as your mailbox). It’s a good idea to power wash exterior siding, porches, decks, walkways and driveways. Dependent upon season, add a pop of color to the front landscaping - whether it be sprucing up your flower beds, adding a charming wreath, potted plants, or bright foliage is a simple way to make sure you draw those buyers in. The backyard is a continued living space and ultimately where you will entertain guests outdoors. Set the scene as if you are having friends and family over for a big outdoor BBQ. Continue landscaping and lawn care the same as the front of the home and dress up your yard with a table and chairs with a propped up umbrella and some brightly potted plants to add a pop of color (if the season allows). Remove any trash cans, recycling bins, garden tools, and yard equipment out of view. Ideally, store these items neatly inside the garage or shed, out of sight for buyers viewing your home in person and online. Check out the homes below for some curb appeal inspo!
Leadership Lessons from a Retired Navy Seal
The American public has been conditioned to conceptualize military leadership as the forceful drill sergeant screaming in the faces of new recruits. While that behavior may have a time and a place in military training, retired U.S. Navy SEAL Jocko Willink’s lessons during an event we held challenged that type of leadership, both in message and in style. And, they were extremely relevant to real estate. Jocko recently headlined our event, Lucido Global’s Momentum, with proceeds donated to Building Homes for Heroes. Here are some key takeaways for real estate professionals. The count is zero Jocko shared a story about an instructor during a SEAL training evolution. Invariably, when the team made a mistake — regardless of how many previous successful runs — the instructor cued up the microphone: “The count is zero,” signaling the team to start over from the beginning. If you want to truly lead, reset your count to zero every day. Regardless of your title, fame, or even accolades, you must earn your status as a leader every day. As Babe Ruth famously said, “Yesterday’s home runs don’t win today’s games.” Be a humble leader Doing so will require humility. In fact, Jocko said that humility grounded in confidence is the most important trait of an effective leader. Insecure leaders fear being outshined by others. They issue commands by brandishing their title and exerting their organizational authority. They will put themselves ahead of the mission in order to retain their standing. They crave credit and, therefore, foster a culture that stifles initiative. (Often, to further elevate themselves, they ironically complain about how they “have to do everything.”) These individuals may make people do things, but they are certainly not leading them. Conversely, a confident, humble leader will not accept a situation in which leadership is restricted to one individual. They encourage and expects their subordinates to lead, up and down the chain of command. They stand prepared to accept the blame for the team’s shortcomings and ready to give the team the laurels when successful. “Competent leaders require no title to gain the respect of their followers. Leaders who make too much of their title generally have little else to emphasize.” Those words were written in Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich in 1937 and remain relevant to this day. Check your ego Ego is a powerful motivator. Indeed, it’s the fuel that drives many of the world’s highest achievers. It strengthens the drive to be outstanding, compete and win. However, while unbridled ego may make you an achiever, it will also leave you with no one willing to be led. If you stand ready to work eight hours every day, you will invest 2,920 hours per year towards the pursuit of your mission. Instead, if you and a partner work merely a standard work week, taking your holidays and vacations, together you will have invested 4,000 hours towards your objective. This simple arithmetic does not account for the improved productivity of those 4,000 hours that arises from collaboration and the ability to specialize. Bottom line: you alone will neither accomplish as much nor do so as quickly as you could with a team prepared to lead together. It’s not about you; it’s about the mission. And the mission must be pursued with confident humility every day. Your count is zero. If not you, then who? Jocko shared a story of the final days of Task Unit Bruiser’s deployment to Ramadi. After six long months of heavy fighting, they were finally headed home. Their gear was loaded onto the C-130 and, with fewer than 24 hours to go before reuniting with their families, they received intel on the location of a longstanding target who had killed countless Iraqi civilians and American forces. Another respected SEAL approached Jocko and expressed that some of the platoon didn’t feel they should attempt the mission. Their concerns were valid: they had taken 12 casualties, recently lost another brother, were ready to see their families and this mission would be dangerous. Jocko contemplated the concerns with his team and ultimately asked them: “If we don’t do it, who will?” What would our world look like if everyone took the perspective of “If I don’t do it, who will?” What would your team look like if, instead, you answered that question with “We will.” This is the core of extreme leadership and what it means to own everything in your world. It does not mean that you, personally, must do everything (that is actually the antithesis of optimal leadership), but it does mean that you and your team figure out a way to delegate personnel and resources to accomplish the mission. What task have you been putting off? What skill have you refused to learn or delegate appropriately? What habit do you continue to perpetuate even though you know you shouldn’t? Do not run from challenges, as the human brain perceives what we run away from as dangerous, whether it’s a dog or a dragon. Instead, start by burning off the deadwood. Start by stopping the actions you know you should stop, such as skipping your prospecting or rationalizing not doing your weekly client calls. Or, maybe, it’s your desire to not only control, but to personally do everything in your business, which slows the rate of advancement of the entire team. Prioritize, execute, then raise your sights. Jocko asked of his team, “If we don’t do this mission, who will?” That question was met with no verbal response;. the platoon geared up, went out, and successfully captured the target. If you want to be in charge of everything, strive to be in charge of nothing. Natural leaders are naturally compelled to take ownership. Their type-A personalities prevent them from relaxing aboard a rudderless ship. Invariably, these individuals have found themselves in situations in which others have dropped the ball, seeming to validate the old adage, “If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.” Yet, how effective would Task Unit Bruiser have been in Ramadi if Jocko had done everything himself, from reconnaissance and mission planning, to gear prep, IED clearing, communications, overwatch, and clear and control? Leadership does not mean doing everything yourself. It means doing the tasks in your defined purview and taking on additional responsibilities as long as it does not impair your critical responsibilities to the team. This invariably requires delegating responsibilities to the appropriate team members and empowering those members with the authority and accountability to lead. As a leader, you are responsible for the team and every aspect of the mission. You cannot perform that duty if all of your focus is consumed by one aspect of the mission. So if you are a “control freak,” you need to recognize that your desire to control everything is precisely the source of your anxiety and underperformance. Leadership can’t be boiled down to one litmus test. It requires real-time, critical thinking and a keen sense of judgment to maneuver the infinite dichotomies that will seek to pull you in opposing directions. Learn to lead so that your team can do what you could not alone. If you want to be in charge of everything, be in charge of nothing. Robert Lucido Jr. is chief strategy officer of Lucido Global and with the Bob Lucido Team of Keller Williams Lucido Agency. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of RealTrends’ editorial department and its owners. View the article on Real Trends here!
Annual Spring Home Maintenance Checklist
A home operates with the seasons, coming to life in the spring and hunkering down in the winter. If you’re a homeowner eager to throw open the windows and clean out the closets, consider this list of annual spring home maintenance items to complete in order to give your home the once-over it deserves inside and out. SYSTEMS TO CHECK: HVAC | Call your technician to schedule servicing and cleaning of your HVAC. Cleaning the ducts and vents saves home-owners costs in the long run. PLUMBING | Check to make sure your pipes and faucets aren’t leaking. Water stains on the walls and ceilings are major indicators of leaky pipes. It’s a good idea to also check the flapper in the tank of your toilets to ensure it is not worn out. SUMP PUMP/GUTTERS | April showers are in the forecast- don’t wait until they are here to make sure your sump pump’s motor isn’t shot and your gutters aren’t clogged. CHIMNEY | If you have a chimney, you need to inspect it regularly because they carry dangerous gasses from the fireplace, wood stove, or furnace out of your home- keeping the air inside breathable. If you were cozied up by the fireplace all winterlong, odds are there may be a blockage or build up inside your chimney. Hire an expert to check for cracks and repairs. SMOKE ALARM/CO2 | Better safe than sorry- check the batteries. You should be doing this more than once a year, but since you’re tackling the rest of the house might as well add it to the list now. AREAS TO SPRUCE: DECK/PATIO | As the weather warms up, you’ll be eager to use your outside space again. Chances are your deck and/or patio has a layer of winter grime on it. Sweep away debris, check for cracked wood, and replace loose nails. PAINT | Look for signs of peeling or chipped paint on your home’s exterior coat. You may need a touch-up or a fresh coat. POOL | If you have a pool, you’ll have to treat the water, check and change valves and filters, and inspect all equipment before you’ll actually want to swim in it. EXTERIOR WINDOWS/FACADE | Spring is a good time to give your home a good scrub. Take the storm windows off and wash the windows, inside and out. The house can get grimy, too. Grit stuck to the facade can damage paint and masonry over time. LAWN/HEDGES | Reseed your lawn, filling in bald patches before the summer heat. Plant your perennials, and give them plenty of water. Later in the spring, when the grass turns bright green again and the lilacs bloom, it is time to fertilize the lawn. Source
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