10 Ways to Improve the Curb Appeal of your Home
Even if you have the most beautiful home on the block, if your exterior appeal is lacking, no one will look twice – at least not in a good way! Luckily, there are many simple projects that’ll help improve the curb appeal of your home.
1. Replace Your House Numbers
It may sound insignificant, but your house numbers can carry a lot of impact. Often times, numbers are hidden and hard to see or full of dirt and dilapidated.
Consider changing out your numbers if they aren’t attractive and easy to notice. Make sure to be consistent with the style of the house and use something that enhances it.
2. Replace Your Front Door
Your entry door is often the first thing people notice about your house. Don’t you want that first impression to be a good one? An old entry door can be a real eyesore if it’s worn out, warped and faded.
In order to truly benefit from a new front door, a steel or fiberglass one will offer the most benefits with the least amount of maintenance. Wood is susceptible to rotting and warping, so you’d have to constantly take care of it to avoid those things.
Steel and fiberglass are both super durable, energy efficient and can be customized to match any home. Plus, they can even come in wood grain finishes to get the beauty of wood without the hassle of maintenance and repairs.
3. Clean Siding or Change It
If your house has siding, one of the first things you should do is clean it. Maintaining your siding clean will go far in helping boost your curb appeal. If your home has stucco or wood exterior, consider giving it a new paint job.
The best route to go for maximum curb appeal and energy efficiency is vinyl siding. It comes in a wide variety of styles and colors to match any design. From vertical to shake siding, there’s sure to be something that catches your eye.
4. Switch Out Your Mailbox
Installing a new mailbox is another fairly easy and inexpensive way to enhance your curb appeal; it’s also a fun way to play up the style of your home.
If you decide that updating your mailbox is worth doing, don’t forget to check with your homeowners’ association or local code enforcement first!
5. Pay Attention to Your Roof
As a homeowner, it’s easy to overlook your roof. Don’t forget that anyone driving by will notice your roof from a distance and a dirty or damaged roof is extremely off-putting.
A good cleaning can work wonders, but sometimes you really need to install a new one. A clean, new roof is a massive benefit to your overall curb appeal, not to mention, home’s value.
6. Fix Gutters and Downspouts
Right beneath your roof are your gutters and downspouts. Make sure to clean these well and consider replacing them if necessary.
7. Refresh Your Landscaping
The biggest and most impactful way to bring your home to life, is to improve your lawn; nothing helps your curb appeal quite like landscaping! Add color to your house with plants that bloom year-round or foliage with color.
Fix up your garden beds by pulling weeds, removing dead plants and pruning unruly growth. Also, replace your mulch because it’s intended to help keep your plants moist and healthy. Finish up by fixing or replacing the surrounds of the bed.
Depending on what your garden bed is made of, you may have to replace bricks or build a new one to improve its overall appeal.
8. Fix Your Driveway
Driveways can take a beating over time. Concrete can crack and asphalt can dull, so consider fixing it and freshening it up. Start by pulling weeds that may be growing around or between the cracks and removing any ant piles that may have come up.
If your driveway needs an overhaul, you can rip it out and lay down bricks or stamped concrete that make a big impact and increase your property value.
9. Add Exterior Lighting
Adding exterior lighting is another way to improve your curb appeal. Accent lighting can be added to illuminate trees and the home while adding increased safety around your house.
Clean your light fixtures, which tend to accumulate bugs, or update them by purchasing new ones that are more modern or consistent with the style of the home.
10. Get New Windows
Windows play a massive role in your home’s curb appeal and value. Most homes have many windows and if they’re old and worn out, your home’s curb appeal will suffer.
Many older homes have wood, aluminum or ordinary single pane windows that are either in bad shape or past their prime. Double pane, vinyl windows are a great way to boost your home’s curb appeal and value. They come in many different styles and can be finished with a wood grain appearance.
Plus, they require virtually no maintenance. You’ll only have to clean them every once in a while when you notice dirt and debris building up. Aside from a visual boost, replacing your windows with vinyl ones will help you save money each month on energy bills.
Vinyl will never warp, rot, swell or crack, so you’ll have beautiful looking and properly functioning windows for many years to come. If you decide that the time for window replacement is now, get a free quote from Cedar Rapids’ best replacement company – Feldco!
