Curb appeal is more than just letting your home look lovely. It gives others an impression of how well your property is cared for and helps buyers know at a glance whether or not they’d consider putting an offer in.
Unfortunately, updating your curb appeal can seem expensive! Instead of worrying about losing thousands, these are the top tips to help you update your property’s exterior on a budget.
1. Maintenance is Always Cost Effective
Although redoing your entire exterior with new permeable pavers, a pagoda, an outdoor kitchen, and a new deck is going to cost thousands, good maintenance can go a long way. Before you decide you have to spend tens of thousands to make your home’s exterior as welcoming as possible, take the time to think about what work you can do to make it more attractive.
Simply mowing, edging, weeding, and treating your grass is a great place to start. If you have shrubbery or bushes, consider trimming them back to a more attractive shape. This is cost-effective and can transform an entire property.
2. Invest in Native Plants for Lower Costs
There’s a strong urge to get the best and most attractive plants possible when you’re shopping to sell your property, but it’s vital that you stop and think about how much your land actually needs. Not only are strange and exotic plants often harder to care for, but they’ll make your lawn look uglier or poorly taken care of when they eventually die.
Native plants require less water since they’re in the environment they naturally grow in, they’re often affordable and easy to get your hands on, and they can make your home feel more eco-friendly, even if that’s not yet the case.
3. Paint Can Change Everything
Don’t underestimate the power of paint! Take the time to prime your base by power washing any stone, brick, siding, concrete, or other area that can handle it on the outside of your home. From here, it’s important to pick colors that work well with the current hue of your siding or roof.
Consult your HOA for what colors are allowed, and then pick the best match for areas like your deck or other spaces that can be painted. A fresh coat of paint or stain will make the property look new and well-maintained. Use a good sealant, like outdoor polyurethane for decking, to protect this for as long as possible.
4. Remember The Importance of Water
Whether you’re in a drier climate and you want to make sure to conserve water as much as possible, or you’re in a more rain-prone area, and you need to keep standing water at bay, it’s vital to consider your property’s needs. Tools like rain chains for gutters, a rain garden, and in-ground drains to pull moisture away can stop your property from flooding in even the worst of circumstances.
On the other hand, if you’re in a dry environment, native plants and even artificial turf can take you further than you’d expect! Synthetic turf is a powerful tool that can let you have a lush and beautiful lawn without ever having to water it!
5. Fall and Winter Are Also Important Seasons
It can be easy to assume that fall and winter are off seasons where you can take it easy, but these are the times of year when you should be most cautious about what you do with your lawn. In the fall, you should aerate your soil and consider putting in whatever bulbs you need for spring. In the winter, you want to watch for cracks in your cement or driveway and seal them quickly so the freeze-thaw cycle doesn’t blow them out of proportion.
6. Update the Details on Your Exterior
One of the best ways to create an awesome makeover without spending a ton of money is to focus on the details. This means replacing your house numbers, updating your door and lighting fixture, decorating your porch so it feels as welcoming as possible, and even replacing your mailbox.
As with everything else on this list, please remember to consult with your HOA to make sure you’re not breaking any rules. It’s exciting to update the exterior of your property, but it shouldn’t force you into a lawsuit or fine.
7. Remember Your Time and Monetary Budgets
Before you do any actual work, you need to sit down and plan a timeline and budget. Creating these rules as early as possible can save you from overspending and putting off the work that needs to be done. Be realistic and give yourself wiggle room, but set a hard ceiling for both. You want to complete this project without breaking the bank or taking three years to do so.
Curb Appeal Will Immediately Boost Your Property’s Value
Nothing is as powerful as a first impression. Give buyers, neighbors, and friends the best impression of your home possible by boosting your curb appeal through these tips!
Author Bio:
Sam Willis is a freelance writer that loves sharing his knowledge and expertise in residential and commercial real estate, as well as engineering and construction. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia where he enjoys spending time with his wife and researching real estate trends in his free time. Sam’s work as a freelance writer can be found on Building Product Advisor, a construction industry resource site.