Curb appeal can sound quite daunting and like one of those phrases you hear estate agents throw around on home improvement shows, but they aren’t saying it for the fun of it. If you want to add value to your property, curb appeal matters.
The aesthetic of your home is the first thing potential buyers see and small changes and improvements to the exterior can completely reshape how your property is viewed in real life and in photos. The best bit is that these improvements don’t have to cost you an arm and a leg.
Your Front Door Deserves some Love
The front door surprisingly can set the tone for the entire exterior of the property and is usually one of the first things people notice, when they come to view the house. Simply sanding and repainting a door that has probably seen better days can be effective. Choosing a deep red or a forest green or deep blue colour can give that classic feel to the exterior. Even adjusting the finishes such as letter boxes and handles or door knockers to modern metals can completely change the exterior vibe of the house.
Upgrade your Driveway
Big or small, driveways take up a large portion of visual space and are the red carpet for your home. So, when they look patchy, sunken and full of weeds, it gives the vibe that the whole property might feel a bit unloved. A popular curb appeal upgrade is using specialist resin for driveway aggregate. It’s essentially a mix of decorative stones mixed with a high-quality resin that sets the stones smoothly on the surface.
They are not only aesthetically pleasing, but practical as well. They tend to be durable, low maintenance and let water naturally drain through to avoid puddles. They are completely customisable depending on what types of stone and finish you want e.g. cooler or warmer toned to match the aesthetic of your home. It’s one of those improvements that enhance curb appeal because it makes the entire frontage look modern and clean.
Brighten It Up
During the winter natural daylight is limited and creating a warm atmosphere can be difficult. But small lighting changes can not only increase curb appeal but make the entire frontage glow. Understated pathway lighting or mounting old barn lanterns can completely change the way the property feels. Modern lighting options tend to not come with a hefty price tag nor costs huge excesses to run.
Seasonal Gardening
A perfectly landscaped front garden isn’t needed to burst curb appeal. A few well-chosen pots with seasonal plants and shrubs or even a well-maintained patch of grass can instantly add a pop of colour and a bit of life to the frontage.
A pair of pots each side of the centred front door creates a nice sense of symmetry and balance to lift the entire porch area.
A Good Scrub
It may sound simple but a good scrub of the gutters, a power jet wash of the driveway and de-weeding the front can be hugely effective. Once the dirt, moss and grime are washed away a practically new looking surface can appear.
Even cleaning the windows, giving the fence a lick of paint or brushing away those cobwebs from the garage helps your home look well looked after without much cost or effort.
Enhancing curb appeal doesn’t need to require months of planning or planning permission for that matter. Thoughtful updates can create a huge impact when prospective buyers come to view the property and might make the difference in receiving a higher offer.