Home Improvement:
Top tips for the best first impression

It's called "curb appeal," that good impression people get of your home when they pull up in a car, or when walking by. Real estate agents can be as pleased with exterior curb appeal as they are with a well-maintained house on the inside. When it comes to residential property value, this book is indeed judged by its cover.

Exterior trouble areas include peeling paint; rotting wood on window frames; buckled roof shingles; overgrown shrubs; ignored lawns; and weeds growing through interlock paths, steps and the driveway.

"The lawns and landscaping that frame our home are as important as the quality inside," says Reinie Drygala, lawncare products manager for Clear Choice, a leading name in innovative garden products. "And the good news is: when it comes to first impressions just a few little tips and tricks can make a big difference quickly.

"If you're frustrated about overgrown weeds, for example, the newest herbicide technology is tackling that," Drygala continued. "Now there are alternatives to traditional herbicides that effectively kill weeds, but also provide the homeowner with options if they are looking for ways to have less impact on the environment. The formulation for our Clear Choice selective herbicide, for example, contains up to 85 percent less active ingredients as compared to other products using the same ingredients. As importantly, microtechnology built into the formulation creates much smaller droplets that more efficiently deliver the herbicide to the plant. Clear Choice is effective on over 60 varieties of broadleaf weeds, killing them quickly while being friendly to your lawn."

In addition to beautifying your lawn, try these quick tricks to give your home instant curb appeal:

* Scrape and spot-paint problem areas. This might be a temporary fix, but even a touch up is better than peeling paint.

* Add colour by planting some annuals in the front yard flowerbeds.

* Replace or paint rusty fixtures like the mailbox, railings, house number, and more.

* Tackle pesky weeds on interlock paths and driveway. Use hand sprays for targeted jobs, or larger jugs for a big surface area. More information at www.todaysclearchoice.com.

* Install lighting along your walkways and steps, or to spotlight the shape and architecture.