The Ultimate Guide on How to Increase Curb Appeal
Did you know that adults in the United States spend an average of more than 50 hours each month on house and yard work?
Cleaning inside is essential, but with busy schedules, many people have started neglecting their lawns.
Whether you’re trying to sell your home or want to spruce things up, there are a few ideas to try.
Keep reading to learn how to increase curb appeal without spending all of your money or breaking your back!
Change Your Perspective
The first step in learning how to increase curb appeal is to change your perspective.
When you find yourself on autopilot and desensitized by messes around you, it’s hard to identify areas of improvement. The next time you leave, come home with a fresh perspective and try to view your home as an outsider.
Pretend that you are viewing the place to potentially buy it. This is a great way to get in the minds of homebuyers if you want to get out of town. Write a list of projects and repairs that could be improved and start chipping away at them.
This phase will help guide your project and ensure that your home looks its best!
Repair the Exterior
Do you have broken shingles, paneling, or decorations on the house?
Although repairs can be intimidating, especially if you don’t know what’s underneath, they are worth the investment. When you eventually sell your home, an inspector will check for visible signs of damage. These damaged areas can impact your appraisal and contribute to losing money during the sale.
Get in the habit of making quick repairs and replacements before damage can spread. If you’re having issues with something technical, however, you’ll have to contact a contractor. Make sure that whatever repair, electric, or plumbing companies you hire are licensed and insured.
Get the Sides Covered
Some people lack storage space and place their recycling and garbage bins on the side of the house.
These items can quickly accumulate and many people discover messes on the sides of their homes. The area between your house and neighbors often gets neglected. If you get organized and maintain landscaping, it can improve your curb appeal.
Start by getting rid of everything, cutting the grass, and using the edger against the house. You want this area free of yard debris since it can gather around garbage bins and the hose. Find a space to neatly line your bins against the wall and make sure your hose is twisted up.
To make the most of the sides of your yard, add walkways and flower patches. Flowers add color to a space on the home that has fewer windows, doors, and decor.
Update the Front Door
The entrance of your home is often the focal point, it’s the area your guests should be naturally drawn to.
Getting your front door repaired and repainted can make a big difference. If you want a replacement, Renewal by Andersen entry doors is recommended. To spruce things up at the door, you can install luxurious hardware that will contribute to the home’s unique characteristics.
Once you’ve cleaned up and improved the entrance, you can focus on decorating. Decorating your front door with seasonal decor or timeliness pieces can help attract buyers. It also helps to replace your address sign with fresh numbers so they look neat and stand out.
Keep the Grass Trimmed
If your grass has been growing at a rapid pace you’ll need to start cutting it shorter or hire help.
Overgrown grass can lead to several issues; the primary one being bad curb appeal. Keep up on your landscaping needs and trim the grass each week so that homebuyers’ eyes aren’t distracted from your beautiful home.
It’s important to cut the grass since it can also reduce your risk of bug invasions. Ticks, ants, and other insects gather in long grass and can make their way into your home. A neat yard will keep pests away, increase your curb appeal, and help your home shine.
Plant Some Flowers
One of the best ways to add color and beauty to the home is to plant flowers and trees.
Planting a few garden beds in your yard can improve your home’s appearance. Many people recommend shrubs and large flowers around utility meters and outdoor outlets. These beautiful plants can disguise gray boxes and unsightly parts of the home.
After you get everything planted, place mulch around each flower, tree, or shrub. The mulch will help each plant stand out and make the yard look neater. You should create a border with stone, rocks, or wood to prevent the mulch from escaping.
If you don’t enjoy gardening, you can plant annual bulbs that will come back each year. Once they’ve reached their limit, you can cut them down and they’ll be replaced during the next blooming season.
Replace the Roof
Missing and mismatched shingles can make your home look old and unmaintained.
It’s a big investment to get a new roof, but regardless if you’re moving or not, it’s a necessary purchase. You can work with your financial institution to increase your mortgage to cover the costs of the roof. This is the best way to handle the purchase unless you plan to pay in cash.
When you sell your home, its value will automatically increase once you’ve put a new rooftop on. Potential homebuyers are attracted to new rooftops so they don’t have to worry about handling the project after moving in.
Talk to your roofing contractor about their shingle options. Black and charcoal are popular options since they look neat and bold. You must find a roofing company that can replace your roof in a reasonable time frame so you don’t get any leaks and energy loss.
Upgrade Your Lighting
If you still have incandescent lightbulbs in your outdoor fixtures, it’s time to make some upgrades.
Switching to LED lighting can help you reduce energy bills since these bulbs are more efficient. LED lights are bright enough to cover the yard and you won’t have to worry about replacing the bulbs as often. This is a simple upgrade that is worth the investment since you’ll see savings in your account.
When you sell your home, the buyers may be interested in the type of lighting you use. Don’t be afraid to mention your minor upgrade since these bulbs produce less heat and can even reduce the risk of starting a fire!
Invest in a New Mailbox
It might come to you as a surprise, but more people pay attention to your mailbox than just the mailperson.
If your mailbox is reaching the end of its life, now is the time to get a new one. You can buy simple models at home repair stores or make one with wood. A new mailbox can act as decor if you make it look beautiful and focus on the design.
Brick mailboxes are recommended if you want to improve curb appeal and ensure that your mail will be protected.
Get New Windows
Old windows and frames can impact your home’s curb appeal and keep buyers away.
Not only will new windows increase your home’s value, but they can also save you money. If you’re concerned about leaks, the windows are often to blame. Replace your windows so that heat doesn’t escape and you don’t get a draft.
If you have the ability with your budget, you can add shutters on the exterior of your home. Shutters lie on each side of the windows and can enhance their appearance. Many people add shutters around their windows if they feel there is a lot of unused space.
A great way to increase privacy and improve windows is by adding vinyl covers. You can obstruct outsiders’ views into your home with a beautiful pattern, while still letting sunlight in.
Do You Know How to Increase Curb Appeal?
No matter what your plans are, learning how to increase curb appeal can make you happier.
The exterior of your home is the first thing you see when you drive home, if it’s messy and uncoordinated, it could lead to stress. Take time to clean up the yard, update your front door, and get things clean. If you’re trying to sell your place, the curb appeal tips will help you get a firm offer faster.
Don’t be afraid to get dirty and plant some flowers and trees. They are great for the environment and can cover up unsightly utilities around the house.
Make sure you check out our blog for more info about home improvement projects and creating a beautiful home!
