If you want to boost your home’s value and simultaneously make it more aesthetically pleasing, you’ll want to beautify the exterior of your home. In some circles, this is referred to as improving the “curb appeal.”
But what are the best strategies and improvements to undertake in pursuit of a more beautiful home exterior?
The Value of Curb Appeal
Curb appeal matters for several reasons. Most of them have to do with the value and potential sellability of your home, especially if you’re interested in selling it in the near future. Better curb appeal makes a much better first impression, captivating potential buyers and helping you stand out in what could be a crowded market.
It’s also going to help you with marketing and advertising your property, as you’ll have more beautiful photos to put at the beginning of your online presentation. On top of that, many potential buyers highly value the subjective factors associated with curb appeal, so if your home’s exterior looks especially attractive, you might fetch a higher sale price.
But let’s not forget that curb appeal also matters to you and your family. If your home’s exterior is clean and beautiful, you’ll be more excited to come home at the end of the day – and you’ll have more pride in where you live.
How to Beautify Your Home’s Exterior
So what are the best strategies to beautify your home’s exterior?
- Upgrade the siding. The siding of your home has the power to make a powerful first impression – for better or for worse. If your siding is discolored, flaking, or otherwise deteriorating, it’s going to make people think that you don’t properly care for your home, or that the home itself is in poor condition. On the contrary, if your siding is new, colorful, and sturdy looking, you’re going to make a much better impression with visitors.
- Give it a power wash. If you can’t or don’t need to fully upgrade the siding, you should at least give it a thorough power wash. While you’re at it, power wash the sidewalks and any other structures outside your home. Do this regularly and you’ll keep your premises in cleaner and better condition.
- Improve the landscaping. There are many ways that you can improve the landscaping, and most of them are affordable and accessible. Even simple measures like trimming the bushes or laying down a new stone path can give your home a meaningful upgrade.
- Replace the front door. If your front door is not in excellent shape, consider replacing it. Replacing a front door is relatively inexpensive and painless, but it can help you make a much better first impression with prospective buyers.
- Repair any minor issues. Take a tour of the outside of your property and see if there are any minor issues that need to be addressed. For example, is there a hole in the siding that could be repaired? Does the light bulb in your lamp post need to be replaced? Are the posts on your front porch in need of a fresh coat of paint? In many cases, fixing these little things is inexpensive and takes no time at all, so you might as well pursue them. Better yet, hire a professional home inspector to help you track down and potentially fix these little issues, and figure out if there are any bigger issues lurking as well.
- Add hanging baskets. As a finishing touch, consider placing some hanging baskets of flowers on your front porch, or generally in the front of your property. Depending on the season, you can likely pick these up at a number of different stores for a relatively low price.
- Keep it clean. Make sure you regularly sweep and keep the exterior in tidy condition, especially if you’re showing the property regularly.
A Note About Photography
A more beautiful exterior should generally speak for itself. This is especially true for prospective buyers who visit your property to tour it in person. However, in today’s online age, many people begin their search digitally, and some prospective buyers will never set foot on your property.
Accordingly, you’ll need to think critically about the type of photography you want for your selling strategy. Ideally, you’ll hire a professional real estate photographer to help capture your home in the best possible light. At minimum, you’ll need to strategically consider your photography and how you present your home to audiences.
Making Even Better First Impressions
If you’re willing to invest in the curb appeal of your home, you’ll instantly make better first impressions not only with your guests, but also with prospective buyers in the future. Even if you don’t plan on selling in the near future, upgrading the exterior of your home can be extremely beneficial.
