For many people, their home is the most valuable asset they own. However, a home’s value often depends on its curb appeal. The curb appeal is how attractive it appears from the street. A beautiful, well-landscaped home is more appealing to potential buyers and increases the general look of the neighborhood, which both drive up the value.
Curb appeal could be the primary selling point of a home. Homes with famous styles like a brownstone in New York, a 19th-century home in historic downtown Charleston, SC or a mid-century modern home in Palm Springs will be valued largely on their curb appeal and how well they exemplify their style.
Improving your home’s curb appeal is one of the easiest ways to increase its value. Here are six tips for making your home look beautiful to potential buyers.
Touch Up the Exterior
Over time, the exterior of your home will deteriorate; paint chips, siding fades and trim weathers. Touching up minor problems before they become significant issues can save you money and increase your home’s curb appeal.
Focus on the details, replace anything that has warped or chipped and repair any areas that need it. Areas made of wood, such as decks, eaves, pillars and window frames, should get particular attention, as these areas often break down faster than others. Areas that receive more direct sunlight may fade and show age quicker, and check under and behind siding, under gutters or along flush rooflines to see if there is any water damage.
An important note for paint touch-ups is to match the color properly. The overall color of your home will fade, and sunny areas of the home will look slightly different than areas that mostly receive shade. Even if you have a few cans of the original color, it will stand out against the general gentle weathered look of the surrounding paint.
Take a chip of paint from around the area that needs a touch-up to your local paint store so they can mix paint that perfectly matches the area and blends in seamlessly.
Trim and Clean Lawn Areas
Regular maintenance is one of the best ways to boost your home’s curb appeal if you have a lawn, plants or trees. A study by the National Association of Realtors found that maintaining your lawn was one of the best investments you can make toward the value of your home, with lawn care getting a 267% return on investment.
Keep your grass short and well mowed. Re-sod or seed any dry or dead patches of grass, and ensure that your lawn is well-irrigated.
Trim any bushes or outdoor plants, and have a professional tree trimmer come and remove any dead, dangerous or unsightly limbs from your trees. Keep your plants healthy, watered and looking their best. Rake and remove any fallen leaves or flower petals. Consider investing in a woodchipper to transform your landscaping and garden waste into high-quality mulch. Mulching your garden helps the soil retain moisture to support growth and gives your yard a neater appearance.
If you live in an area of water stress or high water bills, consider xeriscaping your lawn. This involves planting grasses, plants and trees indigenous to your local area; they should naturally look beautiful and thrive with little human intervention.
Repair Broken Sidewalks and Drives
Sidewalks and driveways crack and discolor over time, particularly if you live in a cold climate. Damage like this can reduce the value of your home and pose a threat to small children and animals, so patch up any areas that have chipped.
When repairing chipped areas, it is also a great time to power wash your sidewalks, garden paths and driveways to keep them clean and remove any dirt or debris buildup.
Plant Flowers, Trees and Other Plants
If your lawn is just a patch of grass or your home does not have any other form of landscaping, adding greenery to the front of your house is one of the most cost-effective ways to increase your curb appeal, often increasing the value of a home as much as 20%.
Landscaping your home is more than just planting trees and throwing down grass seeds. Disjointed design, too many types of one plant, overuse of seasonals or over-personalization can detract from your home’s curb appeal.
Use a minimalist landscaping approach; choose plants that are beautiful all year round and avoid the use of lawn ornaments. For the maximum boost to the value of your home, hire a landscape architect to give your home a custom design.
Add Compost or Rock Beds
If you have trees or plants, their shadows often prevent grass growth, leaving unsightly dirt patches around their roots. Adding rock beds or retaining walls, such as a concrete retaining wall, can improve the look of these areas, transforming them from forgotten shrubs to attractive, landscaped areas that show care and attention to detail.
Rock beds and compost are also excellent for drainage and water retention, allowing you to keep your plants watered easier. Research points to microbial life that lives in compost being beneficial for the long-term growth and health of larger shrubs and trees by retaining and distributing nutrients.
Add Attractive Outdoor Furniture
84% of new home buyers listed patios or porches as a desired feature for a home. Adding outdoor furniture to your home, even if it is just a bench under a tree, can make your home more appealing to potential buyers.
Purchase furniture that matches the overall design and aesthetic of your home. Keep it clean, and repair or replace any weathered or damaged pieces. Like with plants, less is more, but a nice place to sit or relax will benefit your home’s curb appeal.
Increase Your Home’s Curb Appeal
Your home is an investment, and its curb appeal directly impacts the value of that investment. Taking steps to increase your home’s appeal is as good as putting money in your own pocket, and any money invested will be returned to you when you sell or refinance your home.
More than just your own home, owning a beautiful home can make your community, neighborhood and city nicer. Many cities in this country, like Charleston, Savannah, Boston and Jackson Hole, are famous for their stately homes. When people inquire about these cities, such as wondering if Charleston, SC is a good place to live, they ask if the homes there are beautiful and clean and maintain their value.
Do your part for your own financial future and community by increasing your home’s curb appeal.
