Improving the curb appeal of your home is a great goal for any homeowner. Whether you are looking to move in the next few weeks or a few years, you’ll want your home to be worth as much as possible. And while upgrades inside the home certainly raise the value of your home so too does the initial impression your home makes. Therefore, you should focus some of your attention on improving the outside of your home. Here are a few simple ways you can do this and improve the value of your home at the same time.
Add a Fresh Coat of Paint
The first thing you can try is painting the outside of your home. Over time the paint on your home can become faded or worn down. It could also be painted a color that you just don’t like anymore. In either event, look into painting it anew. You could paint it the same color it already is and simply freshen it up or choose something entirely new. Painting the outside of your home is a big job, so you may want to hire a local painter to do the job for you, especially if you are uncomfortable getting up on a ladder. For some tips on how to choose the next color for your home, check out this guide.
Give the Home a Good Bath
If you don’t want to go through with the entire painting process, you could just try pressure washing the exterior. Pressure washing blasts off all the dirt and grime that have built up over time. Once you start pressure washing your home, you’ll likely be amazed at what a difference it makes. Pressure washing requires a special machine called a pressure washer, a water source, and some free time.
You’ll also have to choose between using cold water or hot water. According to the makers of the Hotsy Pressure Washer, “Cold water is also best for surfaces composed of plastic or wood. Using hot water on these types of surfaces could potentially warp and permanently damage them.” Therefore, if you’re cleaning the siding on your home, go with cold water.
Simple Landscaping
Some simple landscaping can also go a long way towards improving curb appeal. Planting grass in bare spots, keeping the lawn mowed at an even length, starting a garden, and planting some trees or bushes are all great touches for any yard. Look to add color wherever you can to make your yard stand out even more. If you’re unsure of what to do, talk to a local landscaping company and ask for some ideas. You can also check out these great landscaping ideas to see what other people have been able to do with their yards. Just remember, while curb appeal is about what prospective buyers can see from the street, you shouldn’t neglect the rest of your yard.
Fix the Driveway and Sidewalk
Over time, sidewalks and driveways can become faded and cracked. This happens so gradually that you may not even notice it anymore. However, a broken-down driveway or sidewalk in front of your home can significantly reduce the curb appeal of your home, as it just looks like something the new owners will have to fix themselves after moving in. If you only have a few small cracks, you may be able to fill these in yourself. For driveways and sidewalks with more damage, you should find someone in your local area and talk to them about completely renovating the area.
Replace the Roof
Finally, if you have an older roof on your home, consider replacing it. Old roofs are not only more dangerous to the home, but they do not look as nice. If you can replace the roof now, this will become a major selling point whenever you decide to move out of your home. Of course, replacing the roof is also a big and expensive job, so you will have to consider if it will raise the value of your home enough to make it worth it. But if your roof is more than 20 years old, it’s likely time to consider getting a new one either way.
Make Your Home Stand Out from the Rest
When your home finally goes on the market, it’s going to have some competition. The more you improve the outside of the home, the more interested parties you’ll get. You can then demand a higher price for the home and turn a larger profit when it comes time to sell. All it requires is taking the time to think about which areas of your home’s exterior need the most work, then putting a plan in place to correct them before it comes time to sell.
