Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal to Increase Home Value

You may put a lot of money into your home, but that doesn’t necessarily make it an investment. Since the housing crisis of 2008, financial experts advise people to look at buying a home as a lifestyle choice and to stay within one’s means. Looking at homeownership as an investment is an outdated mentality. And, while your home should not be viewed as a financial investment, that doesn’t mean you should not do what you can to maintain or even increase its value. If you plan on putting it on the market, the best way to ensure you get the most money is by increasing its curb appeal.

What is Curb Appeal?

“Curb appeal” is a term that refers to the attractiveness of a house based on its first impression from the outside. When looking at multiple listing services (MLS) or even just browsing your neighborhood, potential home buyers see your front yard as a first impression to decide if they want to discover more. If you don’t hook them right away, that’s another sale slipping through your fingers. Improving your home’s curb appeal does not have to be an expensive endeavor. Much of what you can do is simple maintenance around the front yard. However, if you are looking to add dollars to your asking price, there are larger projects that correlate with higher prices. Below are some ideas on improving your home’s curb appeal to increase home value.

How to Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal

Over time, traffic and weather can leave your driveway and walkways looking stained and discolored. Rent a power washer or hire a professional service to blast all that dirt and grime away for a brand new look.
Nowadays, people look for energy efficiency as a standard feature in a new home. If you are due for a roof replacement, look into cool roofs that lower power bills and keep homes comfortable. If you are worried about the cost of replacement, worry not. A new roof has one of the best returns on investment of 75 percent.
Make sure your yard is attractive and manicured. If you have a lawn, fill in patches and keep it trimmed. Make sure flower beds are weeded, watered and protected with mulch. Consider planting native flora to increase biodiversity and add character to your garden.

Painting your front door grey or blue can increase your home’s value up to $1,514 and the project only costs dollars to complete.

If your home has a pool, make sure it is constantly clean and ready to be viewed. Clear away equipment, toys, and other items that get in the way of its visual appeal. If that is too much work for your busy schedule, close it down by balancing its chemicals and using a winter cover to protect it from the elements.

Install outdoor solar lighting that illuminates walking paths without draining electricity.

Plant flowers in window boxes that add color and character to the front of your house. You can mix and match the flowers based on your color scheme.

Replace the hardware on the outside of the house such as door knobs and address numbers. Use a single metal or other material to create a cohesive look.

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While you home is not a financial investment, that shouldn’t stop you from trying to get the most you can when you put it on the market. To do so, it’s best to focus on the curb appeal of the house. Projects like power washing the driveway and replacing the outdoor hardware can breathe new life into your home’s look and increase the number of interested home buyers.

Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal to Increase Home Value