7 Effective Ways to Improve the Curb Appeal of a Home
By: John Garcia | Date Posted: July 19, 2022
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Even when you arenât interested in selling your home anytime soon, curb appeal will play an important role in owning your property.
Walking outside your house needs to feel peaceful, inviting, and welcoming.
Having a sense of peace can be difficult when you walk into a home with a fading paint job, uneven walkway, and leaky gutters.
The first impression remains important for people who plan to sell their homes. And the best way for them to achieve this is to improve the curb appeal.
The exterior appearance of a home may turn off future buyers or intrigue them.
Since curb appeal is important, you might want to know ways of improving it now. Investing money and time into your homeâs curb appeal can help improve the propertyâs value now and in the future.
While every property has unique updates and needs, the following are some of the best ways that can help improve the curb appeal of any home:
Best Ways to Improve the Curb Appeal of a Home
Fix the Roof
Your roofâs condition is among the first things appraisers will assess and potential buyers notice. Faded, curled, or missing shingles add nothing to the value or appearance of your home.
If the neighborsâ houses have replaced or maintained roofs, then yours may look shabby.
You may hire a roofing contractor to repair the roof or pay for the project later in an appraisal.
A good appraiser can mark the value down by the cost of the renovation.
As per the Remodeling Impact Report from a group of realtors, the median cost of a shingle roof is around $7,600.
And if you choose to install a new roof, you will definitely get the investment back and probably even more.
However, some tired roofs may look better if you get rid of 20 years of algae, lichens, moss, and dirt.
Avoid cleaning the roofs yourself. Instead, enlist the help of a professional with effective methods and tools to clean without damaging them.
A 1,800-square-foot roof may take a day to have done and cost you about $500 to clean it professionally.
Give Your Garage Door a Lift
In most neighborhoods, a garage door dominates what you will see from the street. However, it may lack the depth or detail of the rest of the property.
One basic fix, which needs little effort and zero commitment, is to add magnetic decorative or temporary hardware, such as faux window panels, hasps, and handles. Most of these accessories remain secure and add value.
A garage door is also paintable. Shifting from dingy whitish or basic white might have a great impact.
Consider painting your garage door so as to match the siding or go for the same contrasting color.
This is a weekend project, especially when you use fast-drying exterior semigloss paints.
Some door finishes might also require a primer first. So consider asking the local store if youâre unsure.
Improve the Front Yardâs Appearance
Your homeâs curb appeal is mostly affected by the front yardâs appearance.
As a matter of fact, the entire idea focuses on making a great improvement in your yard since it is among the first things visitors will see.
So how can you ensure that this part is stunning?
Maybe the obvious place, to begin with, is the flowerbed. If you donât have one, then you are missing out on the best and easiest way to decorate the front yard.
Among the best ways to make the front yard look good is to decorate your flowerbed.
You can achieve this by keeping shrubs and other plants that look vibrant and fresh.
You may as well add plants, such as ficus and pachysandra, to your flowerbed, along with attractive flowers, shrubs, and trees, such as:
- Honeysuckle
- Grapes
- Azaleas
Keep Your Home Clean
Sweep away cobwebs and dirt, then use your pressure washer or garden hose to keep the walls clean.
If you donât own a pressure washer, consider scrubbing dirty walls using a soft-bristle brush and a solution of water and non-phosphate determine.
A good washer makes washing mildewed or dirty siding a simple job.
Though ensure you know how to use the pressure washer as the strong spray may erode the siding or peel your paint.
Consider using a telescoping wand for a three-story house to enable you to work from the ground.
Then use a low-pressure pressure in order to spray on the siding as per the label directions.
Upgrade the Front Door
If your front door is in disrepair or old, be sure to replace it. However, if itâs in good condition, repainting it might just be as effective to improve your curb appeal, not to mention it is affordable.
The cost can be as low as $100, especially when you choose to DIY.
Go for a color that complements the façade. Bright and bold colors, like cobalt and turquoise, are popular these days and can easily grab the attention of many people.
Invest in a Good Outdoor Lighting
A new outdoor light is an affordable way of dressing up the front porch. Plus, it is a simple DIY task you can handle.
You can get started with the project by refreshing the appearance of the existing porch lighting with some elbow grease and applying some paint.
Adding LED or solar lighting is also a surprisingly inexpensive and great way to improve your homeâs curb appeal.
Upgrade the Mailbox
Whether you have a box mounted to the house or a regular mailbox standing by the roadside, this simple upgrade is a great way to show potential buyers that you really care about details.
As a matter of fact, a mailbox might sometimes be a deal breaker as far as a homeâs curb appeal is concerned.
The best thing about this is that it wonât cost you a lot. Prices for a new mailbox range between $20 and $100.
To Wrap-Up!
As much as many homeowners want to ignore this, the first impression really matters.
Although curb appeal is mostly linked to buying and selling a house, there are many other reasons to ensure yours look at its best.
Besides, you have nothing to lose, even when you donât plan to sell your home.
Thank you for reading!
