One of the most important factors of a house is its curb
appeal. Just ask any real estate agent and they’ll tell you the same thing.
Curb appeal greatly affects the value of your house and is especially important
if you plan on selling it in the near future.
So just what is curb appeal? Curb appeal is the wow-factor
of your house. When people are driving down your street, you want them to slow
down a little as they pass your house to soak in the glory. “What gives a house
great curb appeal?” you may ask, well there are a number of things:
Awesome Exterior
Whether your house has brick, vinyl, or any other type of
siding, you want it to be in tip-top shape. Siding with splotches of black
rotting wood or faded paint look terrible and greatly decrease your house’s
curb appeal. Not only does shoddy siding look awful, but it also can lead to
energy leaks that cost you a great deal of money during the summer and winter
months. Do plenty of research on what type of siding works best for you and get
a contractor or three to come out and give you their opinion and a quote on
fixing your exterior.
Once you’re sure that your siding is in good shape, you’ll
want to have a good coat of paint put on it. Before you decide on your own, or
have your tacky Aunt Beatrice tell you what color to paint it, make sure you
talk to a few realtors to find out what colors and styles of paint are
currently appropriate and desirable for your neighborhood. Just because you
love the color turquoise does not mean painting your house that color will give
it great curb appeal; it might actually make your house look much less
appealing.
Windows
Windows are where it’s at when it comes to curb appeal. Make
sure all of your windows are kept very clean and are in good shape. A broken
window is a HUGE no-no when trying to build your house’s curb appeal. People
love houses that have giant, beautiful windows, but if your house doesn’t have
these you can work around it with custom shutters or by accenting them with
your garden. Having your curtains or blinds drawn in your front living areas
will make your house look nicer; just make sure everything inside your house
that can be seen through the windows in the evening is in good order.
Once again, I highly recommend working with a contractor
that really knows windows when replacing them. A window is a very important
component of your exterior both cosmetically and functionally. Make sure all of
your windows not only look great, but are also functional (open and close
completely). A window that doesn’t open can be dangerous during a fire and one
that doesn’t lock can be a security breach!
Garden
Now gardening is not something that we’re all good at. I
have what my wife calls a “brown thumb,” meaning everything I touch that is of
a botanical nature is bound to die within a few days. If this is the case,
enlist some help. That being said, gardening is something that most people love
to do, as it is a relaxing outdoor activity. If you don’t have any sort of
plant life in your yard, your curb appeal is probably just as dead as the
tomato plants I tried to plant in my backyard last week. There is a plethora of
gardening blogs, both organic and conventional, that will let you know what to
plant in your area during this time of year.
If you need ideas of what kind of garden looks good in your
area, just drive around your neighborhood and take notice of the gardens that
jump out to you. Take note of what people are doing with their gardens and how
they bring out the best in the person’s house. Many people grow vegetables in
their front yard, making their gardens not only cosmetically appealing, but
useful, too.
Your Front Porch
How many times have you driven by a house and seen a porch
that looks so cool that you wished you had one just like it to hang out on?
Even if you don’t spend much time on your front porch, you should make it look
like a place that you would want to. If you have the room, get interesting
decorations and seating for your front porch. Seasonal decorations for your
front door that don’t look too tacky are a must. Rocking chairs or porch
swings, etc. always make a front porch seem more like a place one would want to
spend time; and part of the whole idea of curb appeal is making your house look
like a place that one would want to spend time, is it not?
Other Tips
Okay, so you’ve got the awesome siding/exterior, paint job,
windows, garden, and porch going, what next? Well, here are some other things
you need to keep in mind when looking to boost your curb appeal:
·
No trash
or clutter ANYWHERE in your yard… Ever! – instant curb appeal killer.
·
Keep all
fences painted and in good order. – no gaps or missing posts allowed.
·
Pick up
animal poop! – gross.
·
No broken
down vehicles in yard or driveway – you’re not Jeff Foxworthy.
·
Mow/rake
your lawn – You’d think this would be a no-brainer, but…
·
Political
signs – This might be controversial, but save it for the voting booth.
·
Your cars
affect your curb appeal - even if your car is older, wash it if it’s going
to be parked in your driveway.
·
Your
mailbox affects your curb appeal – whether on your porch or at the front of
your yard.
I’m sure there are countless other things I could write
about curb appeal, but this should at least give you some ideas on where to
start. Now go get your house looking great!
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