Psychology of the Entrance

A problem with many newer homes is that developers don't provide a separate walkway to the front door. You don't want to make buyers walk around cars and trip over driveway edges to navigate to your front door, so create a separate walkway from the street to the porch. You don't have to go to the expense of pouring a concrete walkway; a rock-lined, compressed dirt or gravel pathway bordered with flowers may be sufficient. Choose materials that go with your home. If your home is casual, a meandering pathway invites the feelings of relaxation and promised garden strolls to buyers.

For more formal homes, build a cost-effective walkway with concrete stepping stones. Leave two to six inch spaces between the steps to soften the hard edges; this design makes the walkway appear like a pricey custom installment when you plant greenery in the spaces.

Another way to do an effective walkway: gather flat rocks, build squares with two by fours, and rent a cement mixer for a day.

See Renovations That Pay by Jeff Tompkins with a picture of a great driveway solution.

(c.)2005 Jeanette J. Fisher