When it comes to real estate, first impressions do matter, and being able to deliver a great first impression when people come to your property will help you boost your home value and appearance, whether you’re selling or not.
Enhancing your home’s curb appeal can be a smart financial move, but it’s also about personal satisfaction. On average, homes with great curb appeal sell for 7% more than those that haven’t invested in exterior improvements. But even if you’re not planning to sell, a well-maintained exterior can bring you greater satisfaction each time you return home, creating a sense of pride and contentment in your living space.
Not sure where to start or what will make the best impact? These simple tips are designed to improve your home’s curb appeal, making it stand out for all the right reasons. Remember, you can start small and build from there, making the process less daunting and more manageable. Every small improvement you make will bring you closer to your curb appeal goals.
Clean it Up
Sometimes, the simple options are the best ones, and it might be that all you need to do is give it a quick clean. If you need more TLC, starting with a deep external clean is a great place to start. You can invest in a pressure washer, which can help you clean landscape areas as well as the exterior of the property to remove any letters of buildup and dirt that might be there. By taking things back to their original condition, you might find your home has a mini glow-up and doesn’t need much else. If you don’t want to do this yourself or you can’t carry it out, you can hire companies that can do this on your behalf.
Replace Your Mailbox
Curb appeal is about how your home looks at first glance. If the first thing people use is a rusty, broken mailbox, then it’s time to replace it and ensure it’s representative of you and your home. Update it with a new coat of paint or carry out some repairs if you wish, but a new mailbox can help you build that impression right from the roadside.
Repair Your Fence/Boundary Line
The outside edge of your property line needs just as much attention as the inside. If you have a fence or gate, you need to ensure they are in good repair, painted if required, or stripped of old paint instead of being left to crack and flake.
The same goes for metal or chain link fencing. Repair any damage and ensure that nothing is broken or could harm anyone passing by.
If you have an open boundary line, make sure it’s neat, tidy, and well-kept. If you have grass up to the pavement, use an edger so you can create a distinct line that clearly marks the edge of your property and remove any rubbish, weeds or build from hard landscaped spaces, too. This attention to detail can enable you to improve how people view your home and how you live.
Paint The Front Door
Or repair or replace it. Give your front door a bit of attention, cna insult, revive tired-looking doors, and give them a new lease of life. Remove any chipped or peeling paintwork, smooth down the door, and repaint it. If you have a uPVC door, clean it well and use paint specifically for these doors for a better effect. If you have a wooden door, consider giving it a good varnish to boost its visual appeal and protect the wood.
Add Lighting
Lighting isn’t just a functional tool for your property’s outside space; it’s a key element in creating a great visual aspect. When adding lighting, pay attention to the style and type of lighting you use to ensure it complements your home’s exterior.
When it comes to lighting, the options are endless. From a light-up ornamental display to hanging solar lights, string lighting, wooden features, or a lamppost, you can choose the style that best suits your home. These lighting options not only provide visibility after dark but also create an attractive visual appeal during the day.
Add Plants
Whether real or artificial, plants are well known to boost people’s moods and how they feel about something, including property, and you can use plants in many different ways. From planters along a pathway to flower beds, window boxes, hanging baskets, trellis on walls, archways over pathways, and so on, there are multiple excellent ways plants can enhance your property and help you cultivate the perfect curb appeal aesthetics for your home.
Create A Cohesive Colour Scheme
Using colors to create visual appeal isn’t new and can work wonders for your home. You need to carefully consider the colors used on your home’s exterior, from window frames to decking, plants, lighting, and more, to create a cohesive color scheme that enhances your home’s curb appeal.
All of these need to form part of your story and work together cohesively to help you create a simple yet stunning impact that delights the eyes and makes people smile when they look at your home.
Update Hardware
Updating hardware means changing your door handle, house number or name, and any fittings outside.
Brass or copper fittings are more rust-resistant, can last longer, and look better than other alternatives that might not fare as well in external conditions. If you choose to paint your hardware, use a rust-resistant eternal paint that can withstand the elements for longer-lasting effects.
Add Texture
Adding texture to your yard can help you create visual appeal and give your outdoor space more interest that is aesthetically pleasing. This might be adding in a lawn or artificial turf to concrete spaces. Maybe try adding gravel or stones to driveways or flower beds? You can add shrubbery to grass or flowers alongside your lawn. Texture can come in many different options, and it adds dimension to what otherwise might be a flat or boring space. You can use ornaments to add texture, too, if you wish, or you can add wooden features, metal fencing, or glass to create the look you are aiming for.
