Want to increase curb appeal of your home? Of course you do! A beautiful outside presentation is a huge part of welcoming guests, impressing neighbors or preparing to sell a home.
The good news is that you may not have to do much to have a big impact. There are a lot of relatively simple ways to increase curb appeal and ensure your property gives off a very good first impression and maybe even increasing its value too.
6 Steps to Increase Curb Appeal
1. Add a garden.
Having a colorful and bright front garden is a wonderful way to increase curb appeal of your home. It’s also important to keep future maintenance in mind. Some container gardens are a popular choice that can have both pros and cons to consider. Make sure your garden is in a spot that has plenty of sunshine. And water it daily to make sure the flowers fully bloom and are welcoming to guests.
2. Paint your door.
As the entrance to your home, the front door makes a statement about your entire property. It can determine if guests or potential buyers will think it’s maintained and welcoming. First impressions really do matter. If you need to improve your front door, it’s actually a simple project to do. Try adding a fresh coat of paint. Or even simply polishing the metal on the door fixtures to remove dirty spots can give your door a big boast. Adding a colorful welcome mat and/or fun decoration can help too.
3. Clean up your driveway.
Another big component of curb appeal is restoring the pavers in your driveway that may have broken or are in need of cleaning. If that’s the case, you can get a power washer to help get rid of the grime. Or, if you really want it done correctly, you should hire someone with experience. If you live in the Atlanta area, a company that is highly recommended is Georgia Paver Restoration.
They believe your pavers looks their best when they are properly sealed and cleaned. This process should be done every three to five years. When you seal your pavers, it keeps away those pesky weeds that grow in between and can make your property look unkempt. Making sure your home has flat paths are essential for homeowners as well as kids who are riding bikes or moms who are pushing strollers.
4. Hide garbage containers.
News flash: Nobody wants to see your garbage cans or recycling bins! So hide them. Keeping your garbage or recycle bins in your garage is a great way to avoid the eye sore for friends and family members. If you do not have a garage to keep your bins in, think about putting them in the back of your house or building a container to hide them.
5. Maintain your landscape.
It actually does not take much to maintain your landscape. Keep your grass mowed and edged. Clean up an overgrown garden and get rid of unwanted weeds early in the season. Another good tip is to have someone mow your grass right before guests or buyers arrive. Sweep up any extra grass along your driveway and sidewalk area so guests don’t drag it into the home. This will make your landscape welcoming and increase curb appeal.
Want to update the inside of your home? Check out these tips you can do today (or whenever).
6. Clean your windows.
A component that many seem to overlook are the windows. The type of windows makes a difference regarding how you clean them. Picture windows call for large tools. The long cloth head of a strip applicator can soak up alot of the soapy water and can get dirt loose without scratching the glass. Remove any water remaining on the edge of the glass with a damp, wrung-dry chamois. It will soak up the wetness without leaving any steaks! Dry the windowsill with a rag. Clean windows let in tons of light which is always an appeal too.
Remember that first impressions really are everything when it comes to visitors seeing your home for the first time. There are probably many more tips that I haven’t mentioned here so I’d love to hear your thoughts on what else you think helps increase curb appeal. Perhaps a picket fence to make it cozy? Some furniture in a seating area on a porch? Uplighting around the landscaping area? Tell me your thoughts!
