Adding Curb Appeal: How to Boost Your Home's Value

Adding Curb Appeal: How to Boost Your Home's Value

Most homeowners look for ways they can make their homes look more appealing, but for some, it’s not just about aesthetics. Adding certain things to both the exterior and interior of your home can boost its value, meaning that when you’re ready to sell, you’ll get the maximum price without having to pay for costly updates. There are many things you can do to add to the value of your home, from DIY projects to fixing the landscaping, so it’s important to know where to start.

The best way to prepare is by setting a budget. Look at how much you can afford to spend in total and allot a certain amount for each task, keeping in mind that you may have to pay for materials as well as labor if you hire a contractor. Do some research before making any decisions, and keep reading for some great tips on how to get started.

Make the Entrance Enticing

The entrance to your home should be appealing on many levels. It’s the first thing potential buyers see, so it should be inviting, open, and well-lit. Consider painting the front door, changing out the screen or storm door, painting the trim, adding a new light fixture, or planting colorful flowers. If your house is set back away from the road, placing large items -- such as oversized planters or decorative elements -- is a good idea because it sets your home apart from others on the street. Make sure you have the right tools for the job anytime you work outside, including a great pair of garden gloves.

Fix Up the Landscaping

The landscaping around your home will play a large part in adding to its value and ensuring a quick sale once you’ve put it on the market, so look for ways you can improve it. You might make your lawn more eco-friendly to conserve water, prune trees, add paving stones, mulch, or landscaping rocks, or spruce up the grass itself by laying sod. Do some research to find out the cost and figure out whether you can complete these tasks yourself. In some cases, you may need the help of a landscaper. For some great tips on how to get started, click here. 

Have Your Siding Washed

Every time you mow your grass, every time it rains, and every time a muggy day comes along, the exterior of your home takes a bit of a hit. In spring, after the last of the winter snow has melted, consider pressure washing your siding or even the bricks of your home to remove dirt, grass stains, mold, and mildew. Not only will this make your home look like new again, it will add to the curb appeal in a major way. It’s also a good idea to wash your windows, both inside and out, to make them sparkle.

Plant a Tree

If your home is in a fairly new neighborhood, there may not be many trees around just yet. Adding greenery around your home -- as long as it’s not an invasive species -- will definitely boost its appeal and will make buyers sit up and take notice. Not only do they provide much-needed clean oxygen and help in the fight against global warming, trees give us shade on hot days and can help cool your home once they’re big enough to block the sun’s rays.

Adding curb appeal to your home sounds like a big job, and in some cases, it can be, but it doesn’t have to be a stressful undertaking. With a good plan in place, you can bump up your home’s value and give it some appeal at the same time, ensuring an easy sale when you’re ready.

Guest Blogger Seth Murphy