IMPROVING YOUR HOMES CURB APPEAL

First impressions are very important and the first impression a home gives is referred to as it’s curb appeal, what is seen from the curb that adds to the overall appeal and charm of a property. Each day we go to great lengths and spend much time on our appearance, making sure our hair is combed, our clothes clean and appealing. We want people, even complete strangers, to have a positive first impression of us. The same is true for our homes. Whether we are thinking about selling the property in the future or just want to express pride in our home and our community, improving curb appeal has tangible benefits. The outside of our home gives an impression to anyone looking at it. It can either add to or detract from the charm of your neighbourhood. It says a lot about you. Your home may be a complete gem on the inside but give the opposite impression to a passerby, a neighbour, a potential buyer. Here are some key improvement tips to focus on when renovating a home to improve your homes curb appeal.

LANDSCAPE

The area directly in front of your home will either make or break a properties curb appeal. Neat and tidy is always a plus, lawn trimmed, flower beds cared for, absence of weeds, the usual signs of a well kept property. Often though front yards tend to be overly dull and don’t do much to distinguish the home from others on the street. If this is true of your place add a tastefully designed landscape feature such as a low decorative fence, a stone pathway, some type of art decoration or statuary, evergreen shrubbery, anything that suits your taste to add interest to the plain yard. Don’t go overboard though, doing too much will make a front lawn seem cramped and overly busy, the equivalent of a person wearing too much cologne or jewelry and having giant hair. simplicity and subtle charms work best when making first impressions.

THE HOMES EXTERIOR

The front of your home can be thought of as it’s ‘face’, the first thing that is seen when being introduced. What do you see in your homes face? What information does it convey? Does it say, “I’m old and dated, my best years are behind me.” We want the message given by our home exterior to be “I’m safe and clean and well taken care of, I’m in my prime, welcome!” Giving this positive impression can be achieved firstly by keeping the homes exterior neat and clean. Periodically wash your siding, stucco, or brick and even soffits to keep them from looking dull and showing its age. Keep up on maintenance, a coat of new paint on your trims can do a lot to add freshness to the look of your homes exterior appeal. If the exterior cladding is too far gone to be worth repairing consider replacing it with a sharp looking new stucco or hardboard siding. Accent that with some appealing stone or wood treatments and you have an appealing exterior that really pops.

WINDOWS AND DOORS

The windows and doors of our homes can be compared to a persons eyes and mouth, they are the focal point of the homes ‘face’ and are of paramount importance when creating positive curb appeal. Old, dull windows and a front door with a long and storied history of hard service may not only look unappealing, they also give out the impression of a tired, old, inefficient home. New energy efficient windows and a fresh, welcoming front door will do wonders to improving the curb appeal of any property. If you have an attached garage don’t forget to update the garage door as well, it’s large size makes it impossible to be inconspicuous and avoid scrutiny. A stylish new garage door can be the piece de resistance to any curb appeal improvement project.

Often we become accustomed to our surroundings, we can even become blind to the little imperfection our homes have that detract from their overall curb appeal. That is why it is helpful to talk to an experienced renovation professional and get some exiting ideas and options of what specifically can be done to improve your homes exterior and create that positive first impression you desire.