Like a job seeker preparing for a big interview, you want your home to make a good first impression when you’re selling your home. Its curb appeal needs to attract buyers to want to learn more about your home in hopes that someone will be interested enough to make you a great offer.
You don’t have to spend a great deal of money to add curb appeal to your home. Cleaning up your porch, adding a splash of color to your front door and polishing up any metal fixtures can make a difference. Your home’s exterior should reflect your personal style, and give visitors a glimpse of what type of home they could expect to find when they open the door and walk in.
Here are some project ideas to help boost your home’s curb appeal:
Replace outdated hardware
New light fixtures, entry door locks and house number signs can add style to your front door, a focal point for your home’s exterior. If the hardware is mismatched, replace it with modern pieces that best suit the style of your home. If you have a traditional home, bronze pieces may work well. Brushed nickel elements often suit more modern-looking homes.
Aim for a symmetrical design. Hang matching light fixtures along each side of your front door to achieve a symmetrical composition. Symmetry is considered pleasing to the eye, and will make your guests feel welcome.
Add decorative container gardens
Container gardens are easy to create and can add beauty and color to your home. You can buy them already made from a local nursery or garden center, or create your own. For these types of design elements, container gardens are more appealing when they are arranged in a stagger, asymmetrical grouping.
Dress up your mailbox
Your mailbox should look as if it is part of home, rather than sticking out like a sore thumb at the end of your driveway. Find a mailbox that complements your home. You could surround it with a flower garden, or paint its wooden post to match your home.
Give your home a face lift
Fresh paint, including siding and trim details, can magically transform your home, making it look its best. Peeling paint or rotting wood on your home’s exterior can quickly give potential homebuyers a negative impression of what they can expect to find inside.
Add architectural elements
Even if you don’t have a big budget to work with, there are ways to make your home more appealing. Adding molding around the front door, or shutters and trim to your home’s exterior can freshen up your home’s exterior.
Replace gutters and downspouts
If you have an older home, it likely has an older gutter system. If your gutters and downspouts have peeling paint or rust spots, it may appear to look neglected. Replace them with newer snap-fit vinyl gutter systems which don’t require painting or maintenance.
Fix your driveway
If your driveway is cracked, or it has stains from oil leaks, you can fix it without having to replace it. Repair the cracks and stains, and then stain the concrete, or add a new coating of sealer to your asphalt.
