Curb appeal refers to the attractiveness to a home's exterior, or how appealing it is when someone is viewing it from the street. When potential homebuyers drive by, they often decide whether or not to take a look inside based on curb appeal, which is why it's so important to maximize the value of your value, whether you plan on putting your home on the market among Halton real estate or anywhere else.
A joint study by the University of Alabama and the University of Texas at Arlington of nearly 90,000 properties in the Denver metro area, reported in Realtor Magazine found homes with a high curb appeal factor sold on average 7 percent more than similar houses with an uninviting exterior. In slower markets with more housing inventory, the experts say that figure could be as much as 14 percent.
Take advantage of these three tips for making your home's exterior more appealing, and you're likely to reap the benefits too.
A Fresh Coat of Paint
One of the easiest ways to quickly improve your home's exterior is with a fresh coat of paint. Realty Times reported a 51 percent return on investment (ROI) for doing so. But in order to make the best impression and increase the value of your home, it's important to keep a few things in mind. Be sure that the exterior paint colors complement the colors of other materials like the roof. You should use at least three colors in your exterior paint scheme, including the main color, trim, and accent colors. Avoid anything too bold, as it could turn potential buyers off. Classic shades include taupe, blue/grey, cypress green (a greenish-grey), and golden yellow.
It's important that the trim complements your main color or it can detract from the overall look, such as blue/grey with white, Don't forget the front door either, it can easily be revitalized with a fresh coat of paint too.
Add Outdoor Decor
There are many ways to spruce up your home's exterior using outdoor decor. Decorations aren't just for the holidays, consider the season like a spring wreath added to your front door, and if you have room on your front porch, consider adding a bench or chair with attractive throw pillows. A cheerful welcome mat is cheap and a great way to greet all guests while keeping dirt outside. You might get a new mailbox or freshen up your old one with paint, and purchase some new house numbers - try to match them with the finish that's on the exterior light fixtures.
Improve the Landscaping
Of course, even new paint and decor won't help much if your landscaping is a mess. Get rid of any junk or debris that might be lying around. If you have flower beds that are overgrown with weeds, consider pulling them out and planting ferns and ivy instead as they grow easily and only require occasional trimming. The lawn should be mowed regularly and weeds kept at bay. Consider adding potted plants at your front door too.
Author Bio: Andrew is an NY-based writer who covers DIY home projects, cleaning, and organization. When not writing, he spends his time with his two rescue dogs, Jet and Rocket.
