All homeowners want to see their property’s value rise. After all, a home is the largest investment most individuals and families ever make.
But individuals and families don’t have unlimited funds to renovate kitchens and bathrooms, to install hardwood flooring, and to convert basements and attics into spare bedrooms.
There is one clear and affordable path to enhancing a home’s value, though: improved curb appeal. Here are eight ideas for quickly and affordably improving your property’s curb appeal.
1. New Front Door
A front door is the center point of a home, the place where visitors’ eyes naturally fall. What kind of first impression does your front door make?
Perhaps your home’s front door is an aluminum model that was installed long ago because it was the cheapest option. Or perhaps your home’s front door is a faded and worn wooden model that has seen better days.
Either way, an upgrade will immediately boost your home’s curb appeal. Look for a style and material that complement your home’s color scheme and overall architecture, and your front door will help the property make the right kind of first impression.
2. Lawn Care and Landscaping
A green lawn and simple landscaping can also do wonders for your home’s curb appeal. Start with the lawn. Late spring and early summer are times of growth. You can choose to lay sod on barren patches, or you can seed a struggling lawn with the type of grass you want.
On landscaping: Look for low-maintenance plants that thrive in your area’s climate. A green lawn with just the right amount of landscaping will make your home look well-kept and welcoming.
3. Fresh Lighting
Is your entryway overly dark? If so, it’s doing a disservice to your home’s curb appeal.
Remedy the darkness issue by updating the lighting around your home’s entryway. This doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot of money. Visit the local hardware store and look for off-the-shelf lighting solutions. Also, you can find various lighting options to illuminate your front yard’s walkways. Walkway lighting often runs on batteries or solar power, which means they need little maintenance.
4. New Mailbox
Mailboxes are often afterthoughts, but they are actually a huge opportunity for homeowners who want to improve their curb appeal.
Installing a new mailbox can be an inexpensive project. Search online for an easy-to-construct mailbox schematic. Buy the needed lumber, the mailbox itself and some fast-dry cement at the hardware store.
5. Stylish House Numbers
How stylish are your house numbers? Rusty house numbers that were installed decades ago are due for an update. You can order new house numbers online, or you can find them at any number of stores in your area. The most important thing is to find house numbers that complement the rest of your home’s street-facing appearance.
6. Fresh Paint
Paint both inside and outside the home represents an exceedingly affordable improvement that enhances a property’s appearance. When it comes to curb appeal, a coat of fresh exterior paint breathes new life into a home’s attractiveness.
How should you paint your home’s exterior? Consider where it sits in relation to the street and how much shade it gets. Homes set back from the street that get more shade do best with light colors. Homes closer to the street with less shade do best with dark colors.
7. Power Washed Siding
New home siding is expensive. Rather than replacing a home’s siding, consider giving it a good scrub. You can rent a power washer or hire a power washing company to clean away dust, dirt and grime that builds up over time.
A single power washing will make a home shine. If you get on a regular schedule of power washing annually or even seasonally, it may make sense to invest in a power washer of your own.
8. Front Yard Furniture
People love homes that offer plenty of outdoor living spaces. Demonstrate just how livable your front yard is by investing in some furniture. If you have a large front porch, consider adding a front porch swing. If not, invest in a pair of wooden Adirondack chairs in a color that’s complementary to the rest of the home’s scheme.
Start with the eight ideas listed above when you want to boost your home’s curb appeal. Have questions about home improvements large and small that can increase a home’s value? Get in touch with me any time at pthessen1@gmail.com.
-submitted by Perry Thessen
