How to Add Curb Appeal

"You only get one chance to make a first impression."

We have all heard that saying time and time again, but it really is true. Not only for ourselves but for our homes, too. So, how does your house make a first impression? With curb appeal!

If you are planning to sell your home in this buyer's market, than your house definitely needs to have all of the bells and whistles and part of those bells and whistles are your home's exterior. You want to get as many potential buyers into your home as possible and having an attractive home is a must.

Even if you are planning to stay in your home for years to come, it is nice to have curb appeal. It is a great feeling being outside of your home on a nice day and having neighbors walk by and tell you how nice your house looks.

Here are a few ideas to add curb appeal to your home:

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Budget
• Creativity
• Plan
• Sweat Equity

1. Give your home exterior a good cleaning first. Clean the windows, siding and outdoor furniture. Remove anything from the porch that is not attractive. Keep all toys, gardening tools, pet items, etc in the backyard, but even then, keep the backyard tidy as well.

2. Painted Brick Home

   Are you going to paint or change the color of your siding? You can get great ideas from HGTV.com. You can also get a virtual home makeover if you are really struggling with what colors to choose.

   (See links below, under, "Resources.")

3. Urn of Annual Flowers

   Once you have your home all cleaned up and freshly painted (if necessary), it's time to add some welcoming details. A big pot or urn of colorful flowers is a must and maybe even more than one depending on the style and size of your home and front lot. Annuals will bloom all summer long, so these are the best type of flower to choose for continual color.

4. Flower Boxes Add Curb Appeal

   If you are handy and have the budget, flower boxes are a beautiful way to add curb appeal to your home. Make sure that there is proper drainage for them and that you water them at least daily, maybe even more if they are in a very sunny area.

5. Front Porch Curb Appeal

   Make your front porch more inviting with a couple of chairs or a bench. Add a table too if you have the room. Add a rug and some outdoor decor, too, treat your front porch like a room in your home.

   If your front porch is very small, you may want to invest in having a new porch built. You will more than likely reap every dollar that you spend on your porch when you sell, maybe even more.

6. Now it's time to look at the landscaping. Do you have any overgrown shrubs, bushes or trees? Trim them and see what they look like afterwards. They may look just fine and this will save you the expense of replacing them. Make sure to research how to trim your landscaping, or hire a professional if you are unsure.

   If you need new landscaping, visit a local nursery. Many nurseries will give you free advice on landscaping -- take it. They know what will grow well in your zone and how to take care of them. Make sure to add perennials that return year after year and annuals that will keep color in your landscape all summer long.

7. A Gorgeous Lawn Adds Curb Appeal

   Now take a good look at your lawn. Is it in need of extra care? If so, you can go to your local nursery or hardware store and ask them to teach you how to maintain your lawn. Or if that is a daunting task, then you can hire a lawn maintenance company to fertilize and maintain your lawn. Make sure to call around for pricing, as the range for services can be very wide. You don't have to pay too much to have a nice, green lawn.

8. Porch Curtains Add Drama and Curb Appeal

   You should have at least one "Wow Factor" in your curb appeal plan. How about an arbor or a fountain or curtains on your porch? You want your house to stand out in the crowd, and features like these really help add curb appeal.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your front yard and porch clean and tidy

• Add annual flowers for continual color

• Window Boxes add a lot of curb appeal for the buck

• Keep lawn maintained

• Keep driveway clear of vehicles, if possible

• Add a 'wow factor' to your curb appeal design, such as an arbor, trellis, fountain or curtains on your porch

Resources

• Outdoor Front Porch/Patio Curtains
• Arden Lighted Tuscan Square Fountain
• HGTV
• Virtual Home Exterior Makeover/Painted Brick House
• How to Take Real Estate Pictures