If you want your home to stand out from the crowd, you need to know how to boost curb appeal.
Suffice it to say, people don’t shop for houses in the way that they used to. There are fewer open houses and people don’t go on so many speculative viewings. Instead, as with everything else, it’s done online. It’s easy to flick through online property portals until something catches your eye. This is the online version of curb appeal. Where once you would have paid attention to something you walked or drove past, now it’s something that makes you stop scrolling.
The exterior of your home is the profile picture. This is where we need it to show its best side. If it doesn’t look good, why would anyone pay attention? In this article, you’ll learn the five best ways to boost curb appeal. That way, you’ll have people stopping in their tracks, whether that’s on foot or while scrolling.
1: Assess Your Home
Spend some time taking in your home from across the street. Is there anything that is distracting you? No matter how good the rest of the home looks, if there’s a distraction then it’s a disservice to the rest of your hard work. That distraction could come in several different forms:
- Unkempt garden with overgrown lawn or plants.
- Broken guttering, siding, or cladding.
- Mess and rubbish strewn about the place.
- Broken windows or home furniture.
- Loose tiles or shingles on the roof.
- Faded or flaking exterior paint.
The list goes on. Anything that looks unappealing and draws the eye should be dealt with swiftly and effectively. Mess and broken items mean work, and people buying a house will factor that into their processing.
2: Remove the Distractions
This is the obvious next step. Once you’ve worked out what the distractions are, remove them. The issue is this could entail more work than you anticipated.
Investigating the loose tile on the roof might lead you to notice a need for a bigger repair. Moving the pile of rubble down the side of your house may unearth some damage to the siding. The key thing is to remember that by doing this, you’re not only enhancing the curb appeal of the property, but you’re also protecting your asset from further damage.
3: Can’t Remove? Replace
There are times when you can’t just remove the distraction. You’ll need to source a replacement. That’s especially true for anything to do with your roof or the fabric of the property itself.
If you’re a DIY enthusiast, you can take on some of these replacements yourself. For instance, learning how to replace a shingle is a rewarding process that doesn’t take too long. Others might require you to connect with a professional.
You could also look at replacing some of the major furnishings of the property. Replacing your front door has several benefits alongside the enhanced curb appeal that it delivers. Pick a color that matches the rest of your exterior. The same can be said for windows.
Don’t forget to consider the space around the home too. Driveways can have new gravel laid on them. Paths can be pressure washed. As mentioned above, regularly take a step back and look at your property from the other side of the street. If anything is jarring or seems unsightly, deal with it.
4: Landscaping
Showing off your green thumb goes a long way when boosting curb appeal. It’s the perfect way to make your house feel like a home. The good news is that it doesn’t take much to achieve a great finish.
Lawn care isn’t for everyone, but a quick mow can make a world of difference. Combine that with some trees and shrubs and you have an appealing curbside.
Landscaping should also include the maintenance of any outbuildings that you have. This includes garages, sheds, even fencing. Try to keep this in as good a condition as possible. Sometimes all it will take is a fresh coat of paint or wood stain.
5: Finishing Touches
They say that the devil is in the details. If you want to maximize your curb appeal, dig into the details and make them shine. That could include:
- A new mailbox that matches the aesthetic of your home.
- Cleaning or replacing your house numbers.
- Add some decorative elements. Just ensure that you keep them relatively neutral, especially if you’re planning to sell. You want people to be able to imagine themselves living there.
- Solar lights done tastefully can make a significant difference to the feel of your home in the evening. A warm glow can make it incredibly appealing.
- Make the boundary lines attractive by clearly differentiating your property from the ones nearby. This could be through fencing. If your property is attached to another, simply picking a different color of paint can make all the difference.
Improving Curb Appeal is Simple
These tips are some of the best ways to boost curb appeal. Take the ideas and put them into action. Soon you’ll be wondering how you put up with the way things were. You might even reconsider selling the property altogether!
Some curb appeal boosting steps will take you mere minutes to complete. Others will take considerably longer or require a professional to help. When working with professionals, ensure that you look into their previous case studies and ask for testimonials from customers. Don’t underestimate the small elements. People pay attention to things like mailboxes and door numbers.
For friendly professional advice on home improvement options, speak with us here at All County Exteriors. Please feel free to contact us for a free, no-obligation quote. We’d love to share our wealth of experience with you and help you portray your home in the best light.
Subscribe to All County Exteriors's Blog
Comments