You know the feeling. You’re turning into a neighborhood, and everything starts speaking to you before you even reach the house—the curve of the street, the oak trees arching over the road, and the quiet rhythm of the block. Then, there it is—the house. You don’t even need to step inside to start forming your opinion. You already feel something—maybe warmth, maybe awe, maybe… nothing at all.

Curb appeal isn’t simply marketing jargon; it’s a first impression, and like with people, it’s hard to shake. I’ve seen this happen more than once, especially in luxury real estate. Buyers are selective. If the feeling isn’t there within the first few seconds, the showing’s essentially over before it begins.

One of my previous listings in Afton Oaks often gave the wrong first impression. It had been on the market for more than three months. With five bedrooms, seven bathrooms and a gorgeous pool sitting on a lot of over eight thousand square feet of space for under two million dollars, it didn’t make sense why the home wasn’t getting offers. But sometimes, a house can have all the right features and still feel… off. Buyers couldn’t articulate it, but something was holding them back.

Upon arrival, the landscaping was dense, almost too polished. The front door blended into the exterior and gave no real sense of arrival. Nothing welcomed you in. Instead, the house may have even seemed to be hiding from you. Nothing was wrong, but the first impression was closed off, and buyers were feeling it, even if they couldn’t say it.

So I made a few minor changes: I cleared the landscaping and painted the door a bright, welcoming blue. It added just enough contrast to give the house a sense of personality—a little invitation. It wasn’t some massive renovation—just enough to shift the tone. And suddenly, the house felt more approachable and more human. Within a month, it sold. It’s always interesting how small edits like that can completely change how a house is perceived.

But not every opportunity to elevate a home is obvious from the curb. At one of my listings in Piney Point—an entertainer’s dream with six bedrooms, ten bathrooms, nearly ten thousand square feet of living space, and amenities galore, even including a mini putting green—the goal was to highlight the best features of the home and create a welcoming atmosphere that lets buyers imagine their future there.

When you step through the foyer into the formal living room, you’re greeted by a grand sliding Fleetwood door framing the impressive backyard. At first, the space was styled with vibrant yellow curtains and a more personalized furniture arrangement. While distinctive and beautiful, it drew the eye to the décor rather than the sweeping views.

With the seller’s permission, I spent a day this week refreshing the room—removing a few pieces to open the flow and letting in more natural light by drawing back the curtains. The change was instant: the room felt brighter, calmer, and more inviting, allowing the home’s best attributes to take center stage. Now, the space feels ready to welcome its next chapter.

That’s what a refresh is all about: giving a home a real second chance at making the right first impression. It’s hitting reset and clearing the way for buyers to see the property in a new light. And sometimes, that reset goes beyond what you see, to what value it conveys. Pricing can be equally as crucial as presentation in giving a listing the fresh start it needs.

Whenever I take on a listing, I have that conversation upfront. I discuss with my client what we’ll list for and what we’ll do if we need to adjust. I don’t believe in waiting until we’re stuck to figure out a plan. Instead, I lay it all out early and always try to keep my sellers grounded in one simple reality: the balance between what they’re willing to accept and what a buyer will offer. And if we decide to lower the price, I will take the listing down from HAR and relist it with a new MLS number. Because like a buyer, the algorithm loves a fresh start.

Every home has a story waiting to be told—sometimes it just needs a fresh perspective. My role is to uncover where the story isn’t connecting and help reframe it, whether through a curb appeal boost, a simple update in the living room, or the number on the listing. Because sometimes, all it takes is the proper reset to make the right buyer stop and look again.

Second chances don’t wait, and neither should you. Reach out to me today.

Until next time,

Dee Dee Guggenheim Howes