The sprucing up of your house usually means the interior needs to be refurbished. As far as the exterior of the house is concerned and especially the front façade, most believe that repainting the façade will suffice. However, there is a myriad of other things that you can do to the front side of your estate to boost its curb appeal. If you are selling or planning to sell, then would be the first thing that potential buyers see when they pull up to the house. Here is a short list of the top 7 improvements that will definitely boost your property’s curb appeal.
A clear view of the window
Surprisingly enough but simply cleaning the outside of your house will get you a long way. Declutter the front lawn and clean the walls if there are muck deposits in their bottom caused by rainstorms. Don’t neglect the window area as clean windows give out the impression that the entire house is tidy. If you are worried about the environment or you simply like DIY jobs, you can prepare a homemade cleaning solution. Lemon juice and baking soda will help you get rid of dirt in no time.
Shutting the old color
Staying inside the window area, the second best thing to cleaning them is replacing or mending the shutters. They make the windows complete whether they are open or closed. Most shutters are made from wood, so polishing them and repainting them should be part or regular maintenance. While you’re at it, you could use the opportunity to splash new color on them, one which will match the color of the façade and of the front door.
A doorway into profit
Speaking of the front door, most people are unaware of the impact this door has on the overall look of the house. Their color and texture can make or break the curb appeal of any house, so repainting them is generally a good idea. In order to save money, you can use the same cans of paints that you have previously used for the shutters to match the colors. Furthermore, replacing the door handle and going for a shiny chrome finish will make the house appear luxurious. All these details will add to the bling of the sale price.
A roof overhead
Perhaps the most visually appalling feature the front façade could have is a roof over the front door or the ground floor windows. However, the building cost of a solid roof is too high for most owners but that doesn’t mean that they should give up on this idea. Heavily popular today are retractable roof systems that allow you to have a fully functional roof that can be retracted when you wish so. This feature comes in pretty handy during storms with strong wind gushes that can rip off a roof. The best thing about retractable roofs is the fact that you get to choose the color of the canvas and match it to the color of your façade and/or the front door.
Pulling up the house’s value/the driveway
We already spoke of the importance of the driveway when it comes to leaving a good first impression. It is for this reason that the driveway has to be resurfaced and ideally paved. Gravel is nice and all but heavier vehicles will sink in and there will be pebbles all over the front lawn. Future owners might deem this as a costly repair so repave the driveway on their behalf. A sleek dark top asphalt surface will give the driveway a sexy look.
More than just a lawn
Needless to say, the front lawn should be well maintained and fitted with sprinklers. However, a green lawn needs boosting in order to leave an even better first impression. You would be amazed what a couple of decorative shrubs, plants or trees can do to the look of the front lawn. If you’re not a green thumb (and most of us aren’t) the staff at the local garden center will probably be happy to give you advice on which plants to introduce.
Shine on
Although realtors hardly even bring people over at night time, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take care of the light features. The lamps that you already have can be replaced 1-to-1 with LED light bulbs to save energy and their outside cleared of cobwebs. What is more, you can place garden lampposts near the street side so the house will be instantly recognizable from the main road at night. Finally, a row of lights along the driveway and/or the walkways will complete the light show effect the front lawn gives out after dark.
Start with any of the 7 improvements listed here to increase the curb appeal of your house. Once you realize hoe cost-efficient this process is, you are going to figure out solutions on your own, like adding a garden gnome or repainting the entire façade.