10 Ways to Enhance Your Home’s Curb Appeal

What does your house look like from the street? This first impression—or the home's curb appeal, as real estate professionals call it—boosts your home’s value.

This is a contributed post and my referral affiliate links are below. If you click through and take action, I will be compensated. My full disclosure is here. Thank you!

[ctt template=”4″ link=”bdkLd” via=”yes” ]What does your house look like from the street? This first impression—or the home's curb appeal, boosts your home’s value.[/ctt]

Image by acmstaining from Pixabay

 

Your house and garden are vital elements in your curb appeal, alongside the path, the fence, and other features that first meet the eyes of guests, passers-by, and potential buyers.

 

How do you boost your home’s all-important curb appeal? The following ways will help enhance it.

 

A View from the Street

 

Everything starts from the curb and sets the tone on how others view your home. If there were an attractive meter, how appealing is your front yard? You can say that curb appeal operates under no strict rules or has no set definition.

 

 

When you work to boost your curb appeal, think of what will complement your home and lawn, which can be further improved with lights and all. Climate is also a consideration, as the temperature can affect the grass and garden. Factor in your budget and goal as though you are putting your house on the market.

 

So how do you make an impression from the ground up to your roof?

 

Landscape

 

1. Enliven the fence. If you have a picket fence, check for any rotten or damaged pickets. You may have to stain and seal the wood to protect it from rot and weather damage and to keep it last longer. After sealing, give the fence a fresh coat of paint. If your fence is a chain-link type, you can paint or repaint it. Prepare the wire mesh by removing rust or corrosion. Don’t forget to cover the grass or plants when doing the paintwork.

 

2. Maintain the lawn. It takes time and energy to have a well-kept, green yard. Do it right the first time and learn how to grow grass seed or take care of sod, how much watering it requires, how to deal with brown patches, etc. If you have an existing lawn, mow it to remove yellowing tips and keep it lush. Get to know the ideal height of the grass as cutting it too short may kill the plant. For a manicured, polished look, trim the lawn after mowing.

 

3. Grow a garden. Well-trimmed shrubs go well with a manicured lawn. You can further beautify the place with flowers, vegetables, and trees. Keep your garden neat and healthy. Surround trees with mulch for water retention and weed protection. Speaking of unwanted plants, carefully take them out without killing or harming other plants. Also, cut overhanging branches that can pose a threat to you and your property.

 

4. Light up the yard. You can highlight the landscape with outdoor fx lighting fixtures. These down-lights provide warmth and ambiance that create the perfect mood for dinners or barbecue nights. Some of these lighting products have color capabilities. When choosing landscape lighting, go for LED options because they are environment-friendly and durable.

 

Porch

 

5. Pave the front path. This walkway provides access to your entry door and lawn. Clean this path from stains by scrubbing or power washing the pavers. Remove any clutter from the way and the garden. Store hoses and garden tools, and as to any unused planters and odds and ends, you can probably put them up for a yard sale.

 

6. Spruce up the porch. Planters with flowers and comfortable and functional furniture are welcoming to visitors. Otherwise, the space to the front door should be clear and clutter-free. If you have railings, check for any decay and repaint as required.

 

7. Replace door hardware. Broken door handles are unsafe and can use an upgrade in terms of function and design. Consider your home’s aesthetic when shopping for doorknobs and locks. When choosing the form of the door hardware, go for a classic style that remains popular and does not date your home.

 

8. Repaint or restore the front door. Wooden doors never fail to wow onlookers, but the weather gets the best of them. Give your main door a routine check—consider refinishing to remove stains and refresh its appearance. Other types of doors are easier to maintain than their wood counterparts; repainting may be an option.

 

Roof and Windows

 

9. Clean and clear the windows. Do the task regularly especially when the windows look grimy, cloudy, and dirty. Vacuum dirt or dust and use a brush to get rid of grime when cleaning a window screen. For the glass panes, try using a microfiber cloth to remove smudges or streaks. Broken shutters have to go; either fix them or replace them.

 

10. Care for the roof. Have a professional check and clean the roof as prescribed. Algae and dirt cause dark stains or black streaks on the roof that look unsightly and increase the chances for shingles to wear prematurely. Periodically cleaning the roof lessens the chances of replacing the shingles.

 

 

With this knowledge, upping the curb appeal of your home should be easier. Feel free to add enhancements to its outdoor features and landscape for that wow factor. Don’t hesitate to leave a comment too.

 

This is a contributed post.

 

Subscribe so you never miss a post.

Want to remember this? Pin it to your favorite Pinterest Board!