Do you want to enhance the outside of your home?
Homes have impressed us in many different ways from its wonderfully decorated porch and patio to the colorful flowers and potted plants for all to see, but keep in mind there is a reason behind everything!
When we think of an ideal home, what do we think first? It’s beautiful, of course. Home’s are bought and sold because they catch the eye of people, they strike a chord in the heart of the buyer.
However, beauty is not a “set it and forget it” type of thing, rather it’s a regular commitment. If you are looking to enhance your home’s exterior, you came to the right place. Today, we will talk about how you can improve the curb appeal of your home. Let’s get after it!
What is Curb Appeal?
Your home’s curb appeal is in essence how your home looks from an aesthetic perspective from the “curb”. From the front of the house, the garden, the roof, and much more, each part of your home’s exterior gives off an impression and level of attractiveness to potential buyers or to the community as a whole.
Improving your home’s curb appeal can be done in an easy weekend project or an easy job on the weekdays after work; however some may be time-consuming, but regardless of the complexity, it makes a huge difference.
It is truly amazing how much doing so improves your living space, and when you do, you won’t regret it!
Why is Curb Appeal important?
Your home’s curb appeal is important because we all want our living space to be beautiful because it reflects how much we care. When we commit to doing so, we ensure our home is in good shape for the long run, which makes a huge impact on our time, money, and peace of mind down the road. Good curb appeal is responsible for upkeep that’s low maintenance, so let your outdoor art shine with new life!
Going off that note, what most people don’t recognize is that your home’s curb appeal also helps influence the value of your home over time, making it especially helpful when attracting potential buyers.
While some houses have an innate advantage due to beautiful architectural style, others need more work such as refurbished garden beds, a nice power washing, more light, beautiful outdoor furniture in the front of your house, etc. No matter what it is, it pays literally to properly maintain and/or add curb appeal when necessary to draw attention to your home.
7 Tips to Help Boost & Enhance the Outside of Your Home
Below are some quick tips to help you enhance the outside of your home!
1. Add window boxes
Your home’s architecture is designed in a unique way, for the most part, to allow window panes and/or the ability to install and place window boxes underneath your lower and upper windows. Window boxes are very versatile in that it allows enough room for smaller-level flowers, herbs, and other plants to find a home where they can thrive.
A lot of urban areas utilize container garden methods these days as a way to make up for the limited amount of space, and window boxes are a great way to not only contribute to that but also serve as an eye-appealing add-on to create a small garden that is transportable.
A great focal point to boost curb appeal!
2. Spice up your Porch/Patio!
Your front porch and patio are the main focal points of your property that can really be stand-out players in your home’s curb appeal.
In both areas, you can be very creative in spicing up your lot by adding and adding refurbishing porch railings, porch columns, rocking chairs, a porch swing here and there, fixing up house numbers in the front and back, and heck even a new doormat will be helpful.
Patios take care of your home’s backside usually, sometimes used interchangeably with porch, so don’t be afraid to add some outdoor furniture there as well, apply pressure washing to wooden and stone decks and walkways to keep it clean, have a small fence installed to clarify property lines if necessary. So many things you can do!
3. Significantly improve your lawn!
Your lawn can be seen as the bread and butter, I’m sure you’ve taken a drive and noticed how beautifully cut grass and a kempt garden draw attention.
Start by being observant! Check-in your front yard and back of your house and develop a habit of pulling weeds, mowing, and treating your lawn with friendly chemicals to preserve its effectiveness to help your plants. This is especially important for your front garden as that will be the eye candy that should stand out!
Build a flower garden is you haven’t already, adding new plants periodically or when necessary. It is ideal to plant seasonal flowers in prime seasons like spring and summer with the rich color and patterns they can bring. Perennials are just as beautiful! Just a day is all it takes even less than that for long-term results.
4. Make your front door stand out!
Your front door is an underrated asset that is overlooked but still can boost curb appeal. Ensure a low maintenance future by examining the door hardware of your door, applying a fresh coat of paint when necessary, or maybe getting a new door altogether. Your choice! A new front door sounds awesome!
You can get someone to paint your front door for less than $200 in most cases and really had some new curb appeal, just be sure you get it approved by your HOA if you change colors!
5) Make exterior upgrades to your house
Exterior upgrades to boost the curb appeal are a little more extensive as opposed to other things you can do, which often means more money and time, so planning is key! Your roof, gutters, sidings experience wear and tear over time, which can make your house look ugly and turn off potential buyers.
This may include fixing up your garage doors, deciding to add shutters to your windows, painting your porch and patio if applicable, or maybe even installing a new roof. The main focal points on the outside of your home include (in no particular order):
- Your home’s roof
- The front door
- Windows
- Siding
- Paint and gutters
Of course, comply with building codes in residential and commercial areas before deciding to act! When it comes to getting a new roof, what most homeowners don’t realize is that a new roof can have an 80% return on investment (or mroe) on average!
6) Make a defined and clear path to travel
Pathways are very attractive in your front and back areas because they control the flow of traffic. Without one, even worse without proper light to see where you are going, it could be a disaster! It is advisable to put down concrete pavers or stone forms combined with adding lighting to create a clear, visible path for people to go back and forth.
Pathways create confidence and a sense of openness, which will automatically create a much more positive perception and therefore impression. A nice walkway to that newly painted front door is a great way to add flare and enhance the outside of your home!
7) Power Wash/Pressure Wash your Exterior!
Your exterior of your house needs some TLC after prolonged exposure to the elements, dirt, grime, and so forth, so be sure to pressure wash and/or power wash siding, roof, porch/patio, driveway, and so forth to give it a clean, fresh look for all to see.
Keep in mind that the difference between the power and pressure washing is the former is using heated water, and the latter isn’t! Consult with cleaning professionals before you attempt to clean. Highly recommended that you hire one.
They both have pressure, the other adds the POWER of heat!
What’s The Verdict?
Curb appeal is meant to draw out your utmost creativity in the responsibility of keeping your home in good shape and looking beautiful.
Clearly, there are so many things that you can add and do proactive maintenance around your house, the options are truly endless.
Keep in mind though that practicality comes before aesthetic appeal! If you have any questions regarding your home’s roof or any roofing concerns you might have, feel free to contact us and we will be more than welcome to assist in any way!
How Does My Roof Impact My Curb Appeal?