When it comes to real estate, one of the most important factors to consider is curb appeal. If you are selling your home, one of the easiest things you can do to increase your chances of getting a great offer is to put just a little time and effort into sprucing up the outside of your property. It’s not necessary to do a complete overhaul – just follow a few simple steps and you’ll be well on your way to creating a home with some serious curb appeal.
Take Stock of Your Curb Appeal Assets
The first place to start your improvement project is to assess your home’s current appearance from the street. Stand across the street from your property and notice any areas that seem unappealing. Then take a stroll down the block and see how your house looks from a few houses down. Take pictures for easy reference later when you are creating your plan.
Front Yard Fix-its Bring Color to Your Yard
If you found some places in your front yard that could use some help, start with the small stuff. Mow the lawn and pull weeds. Prune trees, shrubs or bushes that have become overgrown. Don’t hesitate to remove any plants that have gotten old or thin. Removing old plants and shrubs can breathe new life into an aging front yard.
Next repair any patchy areas in your grass. Buy a bag of lawn patch at your local home improvement store or garden center. If there are any holes in your beds created from removing plants, fill them in with annuals or a fast-growing ground cover like vinca minor.
Spread new mulch and install some edging such as rocks, stones, or cement blocks around any existing beds.
Facade Refreshers Make a Home Look New
Now that your yard is looking fresh, turn your attention to the outside of your home. A good place to start is your front door. Old, worn front doors are unappealing, but a door with a fresh coat of paint can be a great focal point. Polish the door fixtures and consider installing a door knocker. You may even think about hanging a wreath on the door as a finishing touch.
If you have a front porch, add a few containers of flowers and plants. Porch furniture can get a face lift with new paint or fabrics.
Is the outside of your home looking a little dingy? Consider renting a pressure washer from a home improvement store to clean the exterior. Be sure to include the garage doors, driveway and walkway to make everything look like new. Avoid windows as they can be broken from the water pressure.
If you think a paint job is in order after the pressure wash, you can save time and money by simply painting the accents. The front door, columns and window sills can all be painted matching or complementing colors. You can even take it one step further by adding shutters or a matching arbor, depending on your budget.
Minor Improvements Get Noticed
Paint or replace your mailbox, and replace your house numbers if they are worn or hard to read. Clean any cluttered areas, rake up leaves and debris, clear the gutters and wash your windows.
That’s it! Although it may at first seem like a daunting task, you can easily increase your home’s curb appeal with just the few simple steps outlined above. The time you spend will be repaid many times over when you see how dramatic the results can be.
