shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Prevent bugs, sap and other substances from ruining a vehicle April 12, 2016 • Page 13 Add curb appeal to your property but cleaning up the yard does not require much effort or expense on the part of sellers. • Make the main entryway more inviting. Creating a more inviting entryway won’t be as simple as cleaning up the yard, but it can help create a strong first impression without breaking the bank. To begin, remove plants and furniture from the front porch or area surrounding the doorway, as such items can create a cluttered feel. If the front door is old, replace it. Custom doors may be expensive, but they might add the wow factor buyers are looking for. If a new door is beyond your means or just unnecessary, repaint the door, ideally in a color that complements the color of your home and the surrounding landscape. Keeping vehicles looking pristine requires care and diligent cleaning. So many day-to-day activities and environmental materials have the potential to damage the finish on cars and trucks. While winter weather and chemicals used to keep roadways passable are often blamed for affecting the appearance of cars and trucks, winter is not the only time of year when substances can cause damage to vehicles. Spring and summer are prime seasons for sap, birds and insects. These times of year tend to see an uptick in road work as well, and such projects can contribute to damage caused by loose asphalt, gravel and tar. Addressing problems resulting from tree sap, insect and bird droppings and tar may not be something to look forward to, but it is necessary to keep cars looking pristine. Tree sap According to Cars.com, an automotive information resource and vehicle sales website, although tree sap won’t cause immediate damage to vehicle paint, it should not be ignored. Over time, sap can become more difficult to remove, etch through the clear coat on the vehicle and cause discoloration. When the temperature is hot, damage from sap can accelerate. On windows and windshields, drivers may be able to gently remove dried sap with a razor blade. However, use cleaning products on more delicate paint. Automotive stores sell speciality sap and tar cleaners. Otherwise, you can try rubbing alcohol. It may take a few attempts to remove sap entirely. Many people are familiar with the idea that a strong first impression can go a long way. While that idea is most often referenced in regard to personal interactions, it’s also applicable to real estate. When selling a home, homeowners who emphasize curb appeal may find it far easier to sell their homes. Curb appeal refers to the Insects and bird impression a home’s exterior droppings makes on people seeing the Splattered bugs and avian surprises dropped from above home for the first time. In can be a messy, unsightly nuisance. Their acidic composi2014, the online real estate tion also may cause them to damage paint over time. Bugs database Zillow¨ surveyed and droppings can be sticky, so you will need to work with real estate agents and found something that will remove the splatter without removing that curb appeal was one of the paint in the process. A product like WD-40 may help. the five most important facThis oily product is normally used on rust and hinges. When tors when selling a home. applied with a cloth and allowed to penetrate the stain, it can Projects that improve loosen difficult-to-remove sticky substances. Always test any curb appeal can be vast product you use in an inconspicuous spot first to make sure it undertakings or simpler doesnÕt damage or discolor your the paint. projects, and the following are a handful of projects to Tar improve a home’s curb apSoap and water will do little to remove tar and other peal that run the gamut from petroleum-based products from vehicles. Commercial tar simple to complex. removal products use a strong solvent or detergent to loosen the tar. This may include kerosene, mineral spirits or another • Clean up the yard. item mixed with lubricants. Go slowly and use caution so that Cleaning up the yard is you remove the tar and not the paint. among the simpler yet most Drivers who are hesitant to clean their vehicles of common residue can have their cars or trucks professionally detailed, leaving the work in the hands of experts. effective projects to improve a home’s curb appeal. When selling their homes, homeowners should clear the yard of any clutter, including kids’ toys, grass clippings or items that might be scattered throughout the yard. A cluttered yard suggests homeowners do not care much about their home’s appearance, and that may lead buyers to think that indifference extended to maintaining the home’s interior as well. Many buyers will ignore properties without any external aesthetic appeal, • Add or upgrade outdoor living spaces. Outdoor living spaces also can set a property apart from others on the market. A recent study from the National Association of Realtors found that buyers would not hesitate to pay asking price for homes with outdoor living spaces. When adding or upgrading outdoor living spaces, try to depersonalize the spaces as much as possible, as buyers want to picture themselves, and not the sellers, enjoying these areas. Include some comfortable furniture, adequate lighting and a dining area in your outdoor living space as well. Curb appeal can add a lot to a home, while lack of such appeal can make a home difficult to sell. Homeowners who want to sell their properties for asking price or more should address curb appeal before putting their homes on the market. • Address pavement problems. Paving problems are not necessarily an expensive fix, but the cost of repairing driveways and walkways can add up if it’s been awhile since these areas were refurbished. Still, one of the first things buyers will notice when getting out of their cars is the ground they’re walking on, so patch and repair or even replace driveways and walkways that have fallen into disrepair. 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