Real estate agents across the board will tell you that improving your curb appeal (how the outside of your property looks), is one of the number one ways to help your house look its best, whether you want to appeal to potential buyers, or just have a more pleasant place to come home to each day. When looking to give your front yard an overhaul there are some budget-friendly projects that can make a world of difference. Here are some ideas to help you get started.
The first step to great curb appeal is to get your front yard clean and tidy so you have a clear canvas to work with. That means weeding, trimming hedges and trees, and repairing broken walkways. You also want to assess your front door and consider adding a fresh coat of paint in a pop color like red or turquoise, depending on your personal preference and your home’s style. When you’ve cleared out the “clutter” you can start thinking about adding elements to go for that wow factor.
Planting and landscaping may be holding you back from updating your front yard, and if that’s the case, low-maintenance trees, planter boxes, and pots may be the way to go. Even a pair of potted plants by your front door can be put together with an afternoon trip to a nursery or garden center, and the added advantage here is that if you want to update them, you can easily move them to another part of your yard, or replant them whenever you want a refresh. The colors you pick here can also set the tone for the outside of your home: White is said to evoke cool and calm, red is exciting and energetic, and blue conveys trust.
While a lawn looks great when it’s maintained, when it isn’t it can detract from your curb appeal in a big way, and advice from top agents includes picking low-maintenance yard options. You can avoid this major upkeep issue by replacing your lawn with a rock garden, or adding rocks where the lawn is bare, using landscape edging to define a border, and then filling it with rocks, as well as trees and plants that are easy to care for. Depending on your climate, succulents or moss can be added. Thinking beyond the lawn can also interest buyers who are looking for a low-maintenance yard for their next home.
After painting your front door and adding greenery, there are some other upgrades to make your home inviting and refreshed. With anything new that you add, you want to maintain a coherent look and style, picking a similar finish for everything that is in line with the rest of your home.
The outside of your home is your first opportunity to entice potential buyers to come and take a closer look, but it doesn’t have to cost a fortune to make it look its best. The key is to pick upgrades that not only go with the style of your home but are easy to implement and maintain.