24 Sep 10 Easy Tips to Improve Curb Appeal
Whether you’re getting ready to sell your home or simply want the property to look more appealing, curb appeal is the first place to take action. When your house is on the market, the exterior of a home can make a big difference in whether or not someone takes interest in your property. An exterior that looks old and worn will almost immediately push away prospective buyers. Here are some quick and easy ways to make your home more presentable in a jiffy.
Refresh Your Landscape
One of the most effective ways to improve the curb appeal of your home is to make sure that the general landscape matches the quality of the rest of your home. There are a variety of small things that you can do to improve the overall quality of your landscape, which range from clearing any poison ivy that is found in your yard to removing old tree stumps. The latter of which is particularly important if you want to give the impression that you take care of your yard. Some of the additional ways in which you can improve the landscape of your property include mulching any plant beds, trimming your hedges to a uniform height, and removing any large rocks and boulders that are strewn throughout your yard. Once you make these small improvements, you can start looking at ways to alter the appearance of your yard for a more sophisticated or stylish aesthetic.
Spruce up Your Front Door
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The front entryway of your home is among the most critical aspects of the house due to the fact that it signals to others whether or not they are welcome in the house. A spruced up door will send a welcoming signal to prospective buyers and can provide a warm and calming atmosphere to the place. There are many ways to spruce up a front door, which mainly depend on what issues are found with the door. For instance, a door glass that is covered with smudges should be cleaned with a heavy-duty window cleaner. If your door doesn’t open smoothly, consider looking at the hinges and replace them if necessary. When you wish to improve the curb appeal of your home, you want the door to appear as though it’s brand new, which is why it’s highly recommended that you consider applying a coat of paint to the door.
Select a New Roof
The roofing on your home should last anywhere from fifteen to forty years depending on the material you’ve chosen as well as the quality of the material. If your roof has become battered and worn because of the weather, you may want to consider replacing or at least repairing your current roof. If a shingle has become misplaced or the gutters aren’t working correctly, water damage could affect the structure of your home and cause mold. These problems can be hard to spot without regular maintenance. In the event that there are damages, it’s wise to repair and replace whatever you can as soon as possible. Not only for the sake of the future homeowners but for your own family’s sake as well. Water and mold damage can cause serious health problems, so it’s important to inspect your roof when looking over your home.
Consider Decorative Concrete Solutions
Adding decorative concrete to specific areas of your home can go a long ways towards improving the curb appeal of the house while also making it appear to be stylish and luxurious in design. Decorative concrete can be added to entryways, pool decks, and patios for a more earthy appearance. This concrete can come in a variety of patterns and colors, allowing you to select the options that fit well with your specific requirements. The concrete can also be laid in numerous ways, which provides you with even more variety when attempting to obtain the right look for your patio or entryway.
Focus on Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor lighting is one of the best ways to add to the curb appeal of your home, which is due primarily to the fact that there are many different types of lights to select from. You can hang string lights over your patio for a more lively and energetic look. You could also consider adding small solar lights along the main walkway that leads to the front porch or door on your property. These lights are inexpensive and can be installed into the ground in areas that are out of the way and won’t provide problems when you’re mowing the yard or tending to the garden.
Make Sure Walkways are in Good Shape
Whether extended family is going to be visiting soon, or you’re close to listing your home on the market, the walkways on your property are among the first aspects of the house that people will notice, which is why it’s recommended that you touch up these areas and make sure that they are in good shape. Consider washing the walkway to quickly remove any leaves and other particles that can make the walkway appear grimy. If some of the concrete or bricks on these walkways have become worn down or cracked, there are several options available to you as a means of repairing these problems. Broken pavement can be easily renewed to appear smooth once again. If the damage appears to be extensive, you may want to consider a repair company to assist with the job.
Keep Your Lawn Fresh and Trimmed
Nothing is worse for the curb appeal of a home than a lawn that is patchy and isn’t trimmed properly. These issues can make it appear as though you as the homeowner don’t care about maintaining your property. As such, it’s important to mow the lawn at least once a week if you’ve had rain during the week. If there are any patches of brown within your green yard, make sure that you fertilize the lawn properly so that new grass can grow in the area. Apply water to the lawn a couple of days before placing the fertilizer in the area. After a day or two has passed, apply the compost and then lightly water the lawn. You should quickly notice improvements in the overall health of your yard.
Rent a Pressure Washer
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If you find that your driveway is stained or the wood on your deck has started to show signs of standard wear and tear, you may want to consider pressure washing these surfaces. Pressure washing is an easy way to clean any kind of exterior surface, which extends from siding to concrete. Doing so will provide you with a clean home while also bolstering your curb appeal. You can buy a pressure washer or consider renting one from a nearby home improvement store. Most of these stores will offer affordable one-day rental options that can be extremely useful for allowing you to complete a project while staying under budget.
Add a Fresh Coat of Paint to Siding
The painting on the siding of your home will invariably fade and decay over time, which can leave the sides of your home with a drab appearance that immediately turns off prospective buyers and lowers the curb appeal of the house. All you need to do to fix this problem is to apply a fresh coat of paint or two to the siding. Consider choosing colors that will brighten up the exterior of your home as opposed to the drab colors of gray and other similar hues. Before you paint the siding, make sure that the surface of the siding has been thoroughly washed so that any of the broken paint residue and dirt is removed. By taking these initial steps, you will be able to avoid issues wherein there are small bumps along the siding caused by pieces or dirt or old paint chips still being stuck to the siding. You want the area to be smooth and clean when applying the paint.
Implement a Sprinkler System
One of the best ways to keep your lawn fresh and healthy is to implement a sprinkler system that will water the lawn on a consistent basis. No matter where you live, droughts are common occurrences at different intervals throughout the year. A well-tuned sprinkler system will allow your lawn to get through these droughts without much issue. A sprinkler system will also be able to keep your garden fresh and your plants properly watered. If you already have a sprinkler system but don’t believe that it works as well as it should, consider looking for leaks within the system. If you find any leaks, get them repaired immediately. Particular sprinkler systems can be programmed to only water the lawn at certain times of the day and will turn off if ever it starts to rain.
Now that you’re aware of some of the ways in which you can improve the curb appeal of your home, you can get started on making these improvements and will quickly be provided with the myriad of benefits that come from doing so.