Some experts believe that curb appeal is the most important aspect of home improvement when you’re trying to sell.
Whether or not you’re trying to sell, the outside of your home has a big impact on first impressions. But many homeowners don’t know how to refresh their home exterior to improve curb appeal.
If you’re making home renovations, you can’t forget about exterior home design. For people on a budget as well as those with a little more to spend, there are many ways to make your home look better to the passer-by and potential buyer alike.
Keep reading for 5 ways to improve your home exterior immediately.
Start Tidying Up
The first and easiest place to start when it comes to improving your home exterior is simply tidying up the outside of your home.
Start with your lawn. You can take care of your lawn by removing weeds and trimming your grass, trees, and bushes. Replace any dead patches of grass with fresh sod and replace mulching in your landscaping.
Then, give your exterior a power wash to clean up any dirt and debris that’s built up over time. Conceal trash and recycle bins from plain view or simply keep them inside the garage. You should also clean oil and other stains from your driveway.
Adding Plants and Foliage
Investing in landscaping offers a 100% ROI upon the sale of your house. And you don’t have to invest a whole lot to improve your landscaping.
Think about planting a garden, which brings color and life to your home exterior. To make gardening easier, consider planting perennials, so you don’t have to do anything next year except weed and trim.
If you lack the green thumb required for gardening, then consider purchasing one or two permanent large outdoor planter boxes. These add foliage and life to your home without overburdening you with gardening duties. You can even plant herbs in these planters so you always have access to fresh basil, mint, rosemary, or lavendar.
Painting Your Home Exterior
A little paint and stain goes a long way in changing your exterior home design. The best part of painting and staining is that it costs next to nothing.
You can re-stain your porch or deck to have it looking like new again. If your window frames and door trim are made of wood, consider staining them, too. If they’re painted, give them a fresh coat of the same color or change it up to match any other updates you’re making.
For a drastic change, you might think about painting your bricks. Consider that painted brick houses can take on an exterior design of their own, with endless options of colors, textures, and finishes.
Don’t Forget Architectural Details
Architectural details are things like shutters, window molding, and door molding. These fine details are what gives your home personality. Make sure these are all matching in architectural style when you’re making updates.
Consider a Roof Replacement
If your roof has any of the following, you should consider a replacement:
- Curling Shingles
- Missing shingles
- Granules in the gutter
- Sagging roof
Also, if your roof is more than 25 years old, it’s time to think about getting a replacement. An old, worn roof is not aesthetically pleasing. But more than that, it can be unsafe and inefficient.
More Help With Your Home
Your home exterior is the first thing that people see when they come to visit. If you’re trying to sell, that makes it one of the most important components of a good first impression. And it doesn’t take much more than little tidying up, adding some plants, and a coat of paint to improve your exterior home design.
For more help with your home and life in general, be sure to check back regularly.
