8 Ways to Enhance Your Home’s Curb Appeal

Whether you’re thinking about selling your home or simply want to spruce up its exterior, now is a great time to focus on its curb appeal. Curb appeal includes the house’s exterior, yard, landscaping, and driveway. It’s the first thing people see when they come to your home. A welcoming exterior increases your home’s value on average by 7%. There are simple projects you can do to make your home look great and increase its curb appeal.

Paint the Front Door

Who doesn’t love an eye-catching front door? Painting your front door is a great way to increase your home’s curb appeal. As the entrance, it’s a signature aspect of your home and plays a big role in potential buyers’ perceptions. Before picking a color, think about what would best suit your home. There are many aspects to consider, and reviewing them can help you pick the best option. You’ll need to decide whether your house benefits most from a bold, elegant, or more neutral color. Painting a front door is an easy DIY project. Or, if you’re hiring a professional to do other painting projects, you can simply add the front door to the list. If you’ve decided to paint the door yourself, follow these instructions to get started.

Clean the Windows

Sparkling clean windows really enhance your home’s curb appeal. If your windows are looking filthy, this is a great time to remove the grime. Follow these tips for the best shine and to avoid streaking. The last thing you want is your windows drawing the wrong kind of attention on sunny days. If your home is two stories or more, you may want to hire a professional. It’s important to use caution when accessing hard-to-reach windows, and professional window cleaners have all the proper equipment.

Paint the Outside

If it’s been a while since you’ve paid attention to your home’s exterior, it might be time for a new coat of paint. You want your home to look top-notch in every possible way to improve its curb appeal. Before choosing a color, take time to research color combinations, factoring in your home’s overall look. This includes picking colors for the siding, trim, and front door. You’ll want to pick colors that complement each other or neutral colors with an eye-catching front door.

If your house has vinyl siding, power washing removes dirt to help it shine again. While you’re cleaning, check for damaged siding. You’ll want to fix this to avoid further damage and before listing your house.

Landscape Your Yard

Often potential buyers see the state of your yard as a broader indication of your home’s care and maintenance. As a result, gardening and landscaping play a key role in enhancing your home’s curb appeal. Start with the easiest tasks, such as tidying your yard and mowing your lawn. Next, tackle your garden. For a well-manicured look, add mulch to your garden beds. Plant flowers and foliage that give texture, depth, and pops of color. Depending on the time of year, you may also need to prune trees and/or trim hedges. Remember, each aspect of your yard combines to create an overall look, so you want to address all the little details to improve the big picture. For tips and advice, check out our Q&A with Bainbridge Gardens. This popular local garden center is operated by the third generation of the Harui family, and it has been in business for over 65 years.

Improve Your Front Porch

If you’ve neglected your front porch, you’re not alone. This area can get overlooked. Examine it carefully, looking for peeling paint and scuff marks. Often, the front porch receives a lot of wear and tear, both from our rainy weather and from heavy foot (and paw) traffic. It may be time to repaint or refinish it.

Once that’s taken care of, focus on how the porch serves as a natural transition area from the front yard to your home. Use potted plants to give it some charm and personality. Also, if there’s room, consider adding some new seating, such as a porch swing or nice outdoor chairs. This can help you enjoy the space more, and if you’re looking to sell, it can help buyers picture themselves relaxing there.

Power Wash the Driveway

Depending on the layout of your home, the driveway may play a big role in overall curb appeal. If the driveway leads to the front of your house, make sure you inspect and clean it thoroughly. A good power wash will get rid of layers of dirt and leaves. For driveways in disrepair, now is the time to invest in having it resurfaced. The last thing you want is prospective buyers driving over major bumps and potholes.

Fix Outdoor Lighting

Nice exterior lighting provides a lovely ambiance. Make sure all your outside lights are clean and in good working condition. Wash off dirt and cobwebs and replace bulbs as needed. If your yard is not well-lit, consider adding new lighting fixtures. This improves the overall appearance and safety of your home.

Get Expert Advice with the Windermere Ready Program

If you’d like to do more to increase your home’s value before putting it on the market, the Windermere Ready program is available. This program takes the guesswork out of how best to enhance your home by working with a local expert. A Windermere Real Estate agent creates a customized plan identifying the best updates to make (inside and outside) with the highest potential impact. Our brokers know what improvements will have the maximum effect on improving your property’s value. For improvement projects that are more involved, the Windermere Ready Program can provide up to $100,000 in assistance. When your home is sold, the loan is paid off in one lump sum. To ensure your home sells for the highest possible price in the shortest amount of time, you can contact us for more information.