You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Well, this doesn’t apply when it comes to your home. When you really think about it, the exterior of your home is like the cover of a book. It attracts attention and sets the stage for what’s inside. Your front entryway, yard, driveway, sidewalk—these all serve as a quick snapshot, giving a glimpse of what’s to come when someone enters your home. First impressions are everything, especially when it comes to selling your home. In fact, 94 percent of realtors say they have suggested to their clients that they should improve their curb appeal before listing their home for sale. And, according to HGTV, when done right, improving your curb appeal can have a return on investment of more than 95 percent. However, improving your curb appeal isn’t just for potential buyers. It can also create a warm and welcoming environment for you and your guests. Whether you’re interested in selling your home or you simply want to make some improvements, adding curb appeal is an easy and often inexpensive way to make your home look nicer and boost its value.
If improving your space seems like an overwhelming and costly task, don’t worry! Here are six simple tricks you can try out to help boost your home’s curb appeal.
- Take Care of Your Landscaping
It doesn’t do you any good to make improvements to the inside of your home if the outside looks like a mess. Curb appeal starts with the condition of your grass, landscaping and other foliage or vegetation you have near the front of your property. Quality landscaping can dramatically enhance the appearance of your home, but it doesn’t have to be expensive or complex. It only needs to be well-thought-out, visually interesting and cohesive. Start with your grass and go from there. If you notice patches in your lawn, plant some seeds and water the yard for a few weeks to see if things improve or consider adding sod. Trim or remove overgrown, dying bushes and add a fresh layer of mulch to your property. Landscaping your entire front yard with plants and flowers can be time-consuming and expensive, but even just a few planters can improve your home’s curb appeal.
- Update Your Front Door
Updating your front door is one of the simplest ways to change up your home’s exterior. A bold and colorful entry door can transform an ordinary home into the best-looking house in the neighborhood. The good news is that whether you choose to repaint your door or replace it with a new one, this project can easily be completed in a day. You may also want to update your house numbers with something new. House numbers make your home easier to locate, but they’re also an easy way to revitalize your front entrance. They come in a wide range of materials, colors, and styles. When searching for house numbers to add to your entryway, make sure they complement the hardware on your front door so the styles don’t clash.
- Upgrade Outdoor Lighting
When it comes to making improvements to the inside of your home, upgrading the lighting is one of the top ways to increase your home’s value—and the same could be said about your exterior lighting. Investing in new outdoor lighting for your home is a great way to illuminate your entryway and can make it feel safer and more inviting. Whether your lighting is too dim or your existing fixtures are outdated, it may be time to invest in something new. Consider adding recessed lighting or outdoor flush mounts to your entryway. If you have a porch or patio, you can update your porch lights or add an outdoor ceiling fan to light up your space and keep it cool at the time same.
- Clean Up Your Driveway
An exterior area that is often overlooked by many homeowners is the driveway. Over time, driveways tend to get dirty, grow weeds and can start to crack and separate. This doesn’t mean that you need to replace or reseal your driveway, but you should make sure it’s in the best condition possible. Hire someone to pressure wash your drive (or do it yourself if you have the equipment), get rid of weeds and address any cracks in the concrete. A cleaned-up driveway will make your home stand out, improve its functionality and increase your home’s value.
- Maintain Your Roof, Gutters, and Windows
If you really want your home to stand out, then you’ll need to make sure your roof, gutters and windows are properly maintained and taken care of. Take a look at your home from the street and make sure your roof isn’t damaged or sagging. If it is, then you’ll need to get it replaced, which could be costly. However, if it’s still in good condition and just needs to be cleaned, then all you need to do is pressure wash it to remove dirt and give it an entirely new look. If you have trees with low-hanging branches, cut them down to minimize the risk of problems occurring later down the road. Clean your windows inside and out and paint the trim around each window for contrast. And finally, make sure your gutters are free of debris.
- Hide Unsightly Items
Nobody wants to see your garbage bins, lawnmowers and other items that you use to maintain your property. Unfortunately, you can’t avoid having eyesores around your home, but you can make sure you store your equipment in their proper locations to keep them out of sight. As for your electrical boxes and AC unit, consider camouflaging these items with paint or fencing.
Conclusion
There are many ways you can improve the curb appeal of your property. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to cost a fortune to enhance your space and add value to your property.