6 Easy Ways to Increase Curb Appeal

Whether you’re selling your home or just looking for some spruce-up ideas, investing a little time and money into curb appeal will go a long way in the first impressions category. Here are six affordable, easy ways to improve your home’s appearance and add some sales value too:

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1. Wash Your House. Over time, siding gathers dirt, cobwebs, and yard debris. Locate a power washer, long-handled brush, sponges, and a bucket, and plan for a couple weekends of scrubbing. Clean the exterior from top to bottom, including windows and doors. If your home’s siding is showing signs of paint wear, consider a repaint. This option may be a bit more costly, but it can add thousands to the value of your list price.
2. Refresh the Yard. Trim bushes, shrubs, and tree branches, making sure they’re not too close to the house. Any greenery touching the siding tends to cause damage over time. Add fresh mulch to perennial beds and landscaping, repositioning and repairing any loose bricks or edgers as you go. Comb over the entire yard and dispose of sticks, leaf litter, and unnecessary trash. Check the grass for bare spots and seed over if the season allows.
3. Add Greenery. Well-placed flowers and plants, whether perennials or annuals, add vibrance and color to your property. You can plant flowers in beds, baskets, or planters around your yard to draw attention to key areas such as the front door, mailbox, and patio. If you’re not sure what plants work best in certain areas, ask a local garden center expert for help.
4. Beautify the Front Door. A front door is a home’s major focal point, so if yours is ugly and outdated, choose a complimenting color and repaint it. After painting, update the hardware and add a matching set of address numbers near the door, making sure the finish and styles match. Consider soft lighting to accent spaces around the door and create a warm look after dusk. Place a couple potted plants in front and a new mat to finish everything off.
5. Tidy Up the Roof. If you’re roof looks bad but doesn’t need replacing, it likely has years of accumulated dirt, moss, and tree litter piled up on it. Do yourself a favor and hire a professional cleaner to give it a once-over. Depending on your home’s square footage, the job may cost between $400 and $800, but the results will be well worth it. Some contractors can also patch damaged areas, so it may be easiest to shop around for someone with these all-in-one skills. Don’t forget to clean out rain gutters and spouts as part of your roof cleaning project.
6. Do a Mailbox Makeover. Like the front door, the mailbox is often what people notice first as they approach your home. If your mailbox is dented or worn looking, consider buying a new one. Otherwise, choose a complimentary paint color and give it a new coat. Add a new set of address numbers that match the ones on your house. If space and location allows, plant some flowers around the base of your mailbox for a unique look.