Want To Improve Your Curb Appeal? Here Are 7 Tips On Where To Start
Many homeowners consider the curb appeal of their home to be its most marketable feature. It’s what catches people’s eyes first, so it’s important to give it some thought! If you are looking to improve your home’s curb appeal, you need to figure out two things, how much you can spend on the improvement (read Quick Guide On Renovating A House Under 50k) and what the ultimate goal is. For instance, is it to make a great first impression on visitors, or get the neighbors talking about your house? How do you create a home that has great curb appeal? In this article, we will go over 7 tips to help you get started!
Give your front door an upgrade
You’ve probably noticed that your house looks pretty dull and drab when you pull up to it. The front door is the first thing you see, so it’s important to make sure that it stands out in a positive way. You can go two different routes to giving your front door some appeal, paint it or give it an aged look.
Paint
Let’s say you like the idea of giving your door some color to make it stand out, how do you know which color to go with? Though it varies from house to house and owner preference below are some suggestions to consider to get your mind brainstorming on which color to go with.
- Bright color
If you’re not quite ready for all-out boldness when it comes to painting your front door, go with something lighter like yellow or blue instead—these colors are still eye-catching but don’t require as much courage as going bold!
- Accent color
If you live in a neighborhood with houses that all look similar, painting your front door an accent color (like navy blue) is a great way to make your home stand out from the rest. It also gives potential buyers something else to look at when they walk up to the house, which can help them remember it later down the road when they decide to sell their home.
- Neutral color.
If all else fails or you simply aren’t sure where to start with this project, consider sticking with neutral tones like white or gray because they’ll work well with both modern and traditional styles alike without standing out too much on their own.
Aged look
When you’re looking to make your door appear older, you have a few different options. You can stain it, apply polyurethane to the wood, or add varnish or shellac to it. Each of these techniques will give your door a slightly different look and feel, so if you want to try more than one on the same project (or multiple doors), consider them individually.
- Stain
Staining will leave some of the natural grain exposed while giving an overall darker appearance than the painting does. This is great for dark woods because it makes them look even richer in color without being too shiny.
- Polyurethane
Polyurethane protects against water damage and UV rays while still allowing some light through. However, it also creates an even more glossy finish than staining, so if that’s what you’re going for then go right ahead!
The final option…
- Varnish or Shellac
Both provide similar results about protecting surfaces from moisture damage but differ when it comes to durability over time. Shellac tends to not last as long as varnish does due to its tendency towards yellowing over time, which isn’t necessarily bad since it helps add to the aged look.
Fresh paint on the house trim
The first thing to consider when painting your trim is what color you want it to be. There are many different colors and styles of paint that can be used on the exterior of your home, from white, to gray and even brown (which might not sound like a popular choice but has become quite trendy in recent years). You may also want to consider going with modern colors like teal or mint green if you’re looking for something more unique.
Regardless of what color you choose though, you should always make sure that the trim matches whatever shade of paint was used inside your house. This makes for an overall cohesive look, as well as one where there are no glaring differences between what’s happening on one side versus another side of your house.
Painting can often seem intimidating because there are so many things involved in doing it properly: from choosing what type of brush should be used; deciding whether or not primer should be applied first; knowing how much moisture needs to go into each stroke before putting down another layer…the list goes on! But don’t let this scare away potential DIYers. To learn more about the painting we recommend reviewing 3 Tips For Painting Exterior Trim.
Update the shutters
New shutters in your home’s front can be painted or stained, depending on the style you choose. There are many different varieties of shutters to choose from, so consider the following options:
Wood shutters
Wood shutters can be an attractive addition to your home, but they are more expensive than the other two options. Wood shutters give any house a classic look while also helping protect it from weather conditions such as strong winds and rain storms.
Metal shutters
Metal shutters don’t have the same aesthetic quality as wood shutters; however, they are easier to maintain because they’re weather-resistant and durable.
Vinyl shutters
Vinyl shutters are a cost-effective way to add curb appeal to your home. They’re durable, easy to install and maintain and come in a variety of styles to match your home’s exterior.
Vinyl shutters differ from wood and metal shutters in that they’re made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride), which is a synthetic material that won’t rot or splinter over time. They’re also easier to clean than wood and metal shutters because they don’t absorb moisture.
New siding
If the exterior of your home looks a bit dated and drab, new siding may be just what it needs.
New siding can make a huge impact on the curb appeal of your home. A fresh coat of paint will spruce up an older house, but replacing old siding with something modern and stylish can take it to another level entirely. This is especially true if you live in an area where property values are high. Homeowners in these areas tend to invest heavily in cosmetic improvements that add value to their homes, so it makes sense to do everything you can afford!
New siding also helps prevent water damage by keeping the rain out of cracks between panels or nails holding them together (which means less money spent on repairs).
Redo the driveway or add walkways
Depending on how your driveway is currently set up, you might be able to make some changes to improve the curb appeal of your home. If there’s old concrete and it’s cracking or chipped, then remove it and put a new driveway in. You can also add pavers to beautify the walkway or add a sidewalk around the whole property if you want to keep it looking appealing.
Keep the yard clean and green
It’s important to maintain a tidy yard before selling your home. The curb appeal of a home is often judged by the condition of its exterior. If your lawn is overgrown, it could be sending a message to potential buyers that you don’t care about the upkeep or maintenance of your property.
You should keep your yard free of debris, weeds, and leaves at all times so that it looks nice for potential buyers who view your house. You can also rake up any rocks or sticks in grassy areas, trim back hedges around windows and doors and make sure there aren’t any twigs or branches sticking out from trees.
You should also ensure that any shrubs are trimmed regularly, so they don’t get too thick for people to walk past without getting scratched on prickly branches. To see the difference it can make to curb appeal head over to Handy Andy to see a yard transformation in action
Create a focal point.
A focal point is a central area of interest. In the case of a home, it may be a beautiful window or an eye-catching plant. This can be used to draw attention to an area in your yard, such as flowers or plants, but also make the most of what you already have. Focal points are important because they help create balance and character in your house in your yard.
Conclusion
As you can see, creating curb appeal is simple in many cases. It only takes a few quality materials and design-focused techniques to make your home look like it was built recently. If you’re looking for a way to make your home more marketable, start with the tips above. And remember, curb appeal doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. If you are creative, chances are that you’ll be able to create one of the best-looking homes in your neighborhood while also keeping costs low. If you want to know if it is worth it, why not just go and talk to a realtor?
Renovating older homes can be a very lucrative investment. Read Average Net Profit For Flipping A House In 2022 and maybe you too can get inspired to get into flipping homes.
Jack Roberts has spent the last 5 years in the Private Money Lending world helping real estate investors secure financing for their non-owner occupied real estate investments. When he’s not thinking about real estate, Adam is an avid Jazz music fan and fisherman.
