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Though the inside of your home may be just what buyers are looking for, the outside appearance, or “curb appeal,” can determine whether or not potential homebuyers even bother to look inside.  To make sure that your home receives the amount of attention it deserves, consider the following:

• Is your front yard in its cleanest condition? Be sure to maintain your grass and landscaping, since most buyers wouldn’t appreciate having to hike their way to your front door.
• Never hesitate to trim back hedges and trees that obstruct the visibility of your home from the street. It is always better for buyers to be able to see as much of your home as possible without having to peek around bushes, shrubs, and trees.
• Is the walk up to your house as tidy as it could be? Always keep your sidewalk free of weeds, mold, and other vegetation, and rake the leaves in your yard to maintain a neat appearance.
• If your backyard is visible from the street, buyers who drive by your home will scrutinize it. Make sure that your backyard’s appearance is consistent with the appearance of the front yard so that buyers’ overall perception of your home isn’t skewed. 
• Since many potential homebuyers find time to drive through neighborhoods in the early evening, it is wise to use landscaping lights in your front yard to accentuate your home’s appearance on a dimly-lit street. Also make sure that any visible indoor light shows what the inside of your home has to offer.
• If your budget is flexible and your house could use a fresh coat of paint, don’t hesitate to invest your time in painting.
• Sometimes all it takes to re-vamp a home’s curb appeal is a little elbow grease. Power-wash siding, decks, brick, windows and gutters to give your home a clean and well-kept look.

Your home’s curb appeal is essential to the overall presentation that is given to homebuyers. Not only does it encourage buyers to come into your home, it could also determine how much you profit from a sale. The value of curb appeal is unquestionable when it comes to selling your home at asking value or being forced to reduce the price just to motivate homebuyers to come inside.

1. What is mold?

Mold is a fungus that grows in moist, damp areas. Mold particles are present in the air, and will grow in your home if the right conditions exist. There are thousands of species of mold that survive in both indoor and outdoor environments. Most people don't realize that they encounter mold spores on a daily basis. They always present in the air, and if the spores find a suitable environment they will colonize.

2. Why is mold growth in my home a problem?

In addition to it's not-so-pretty appearance, mold can cause a variety of health problems for infants and children, the elderly  those with allergies, asthma, and weakened immune systems. These health problems include nasal and sinus congestion, coughing, breathing difficulties, sore throat, skin or eye irritation, and upper respiratory or sinus infections.

3. Are some mold types more harmful than others?

 Yes, toxic mold produces mycotoxins, or harmful byproducts that can cause health problems for even the healthiest people. Mycotoxins are linked to memory loss and to lung problems in the elderly and infants. The most common toxic mold is Stachybotrys Chartarum, which is greenish-black and grows on moist materials that contain cellulose (drywall, paper, and wood).

4. What causes mold growth in my home?

Mold thrives in moist environments, so any source of moisture can allow mold growth. Flooding, high indoor humidity, house plants, failure to vent clothes-dryer exhaust, inadequate venting of kitchen and bath humidity and heating and cooking appliances, excessive humidifier use, overflow of water from tubs, sinks, or toilets, plumbing and roof leaks, and the storage of firewood indoors can all lead to mold growth.

5. How can I tell if there is mold in my home?

Mold is visible and can be green, black, yellow, brown, gray, or white in color. It grows on the surfaces of furnishings and sometimes emits a noticeable odor.

6. Will I always be able to tell where the mold is growing?

Unfortunately mold is not always easy to find. If you cannot see where the mold is coming from but you detect a stagnant odor, carefully examine places in your home that could trap moisture: underneath wallpaper and carpets, behind paneling and drywall, and on the surface of walls behind furniture. If you do not feel comfortable investigating these hard-to-reach places on your own, never hesitate to hire an experienced professional.

7. What can I do to rid my home of mold?

Remove the source of the moisture to remove the mold. Be sure to install exhaust fans in poorly ventilated bathrooms and laundry rooms, and repair leaks immediately.

 8. Is there a way to prevent mold growth?

 By insulating pipes and windows to eliminate condensation, using dehumidifiers, and avoiding putting carpet in rooms that stay moist, you can stop mold growth before it has a chance to start.

9. Should I be cautious of mold when purchasing a new home?

Potential homebuyers should be very aware of the possibility that each house they consider could contain mold. Concerned buyers should consider a mold test from their home inspector or a professional mold removal company if there is any question about the home's condition.

10. As a concerned homebuyer or seller, where can I find more information about mold?

The Environmental Protection Agency provides many resources for those concerned about mold. More information can be found on their mold resources website: http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldresources.html

Tuesday, June 5, 2007 9:27 AM CDT

Home Prices Up, Sales Slip

By Tara Muck

TIMES RECORD • TMUCK@SWTIMES.COM

Even a steady housing market has some bumps and bruises.

For the first four months of the year, average home sale prices in the Fort Smith region have ticked up compared to last year while the number of new and existing homes sold has dropped, according to a report released Monday by the Arkansas Realtors Association.

Why would anyone from California want to move to Arkansas?

I
hope I don't open the proverbial can of worms.....but this is starting
to happen more often that many people want to admit. Why? Well, it's
actually fairly simple math. For example, a small family is working
hard living the "American Dream" in California living in a 1300sf, 2
BR, 1BA 30 year old home that cost the family $250,000-$350,000 when

Area Real Estate Market Rises

By Ben Boulden
Friday, December 29, 2006 8:54 AM CST
Times Record • bboulden@swtimes.com

Brokers sold 21.93 percent more homes in November in Sebastian County than a year ago, making it fourth among the top five Arkansas counties for sales volume.

That growth helped keep Sebastian County’s total for the year in positive territory, too.

This will be the first of many articles written in the blog to give you a regular update of the real estate market in the Greater Fort Smith area.

Check in regularly as we will be adding many new features in the near future.