The curb appeal of a home is an important factor that many owners disregard in favor of sinking time and money into indoor improvements and renovations. Though there’s certainly nothing wrong with sprucing up the main bathroom or doing a minor (or major!) kitchen remodel, taking care of some outdoor improvements is also important. Not only does it increase an owner’s enjoyment of their home, but it also makes a good impression on the neighbors and visitors and is crucial if you plan on adding your property to homes for sale in Green Hills, TN in the near future. If you’re ready to take your curb appeal to the next level, consider the following projects that are simple and can usually be done without the help of a contractor or other professional.
1. Paint your front door
Your front door is the focal point of your home–especially if it faces the street. If your door is faded, painted the same color as the rest of your house, or outdated, it won’t be a very welcoming sight to your family, visitors, or anyone interested in purchasing your home. One of the easiest and most effective ways to refresh your front door is to paint it. Depending on your goals, you can choose a subtle color that blends with the rest of your home’s exterior or you can opt for a bright pop of color to add visual interest and set your home apart.
If your door is past the point of just needing a new coat of paint, consider replacing it. Though a new front door will set you back anywhere from $800 to $2000, it has an ROI of 68.8%, meaning you will get back nearly 70% of what you spend if and when you sell your home.
2. Add some landscape lighting
You won’t always be returning home in the daylight–especially as the days get shorter and shorter during the fall and winter months. Illuminating your front walkway not only makes your home more welcoming to return to after dark, but it also increases safety and security. If you want to go green and save some money, opt for solar lighting that automatically turns on when the sun goes down.
3. Plant some trees
Trees are not only good for the environment–they’re also fantastic for your home’s curb appeal! Trees add visual interest and color as well as providing shade and wind breaks. Planning to add your property to the Green Hills, TN real estate market in the near future? Opt for smaller ornamental trees that are fast-growing and well-suited to Tennessee like Crabapple and Flowering Dogwood. Planning to stay in your home for the next few years? You can go for larger trees like Maple and Birch.
4. Refresh your front walk
If your front walk is cracked, crumbling, or just has seen better days, you’ve got the perfect curb appeal-boosting project on your hands. Sometimes, all that’s needed is a repair job to make your front walk more welcoming and visually appealing. If you want to take it to the next level, though, you can consider using a unique stain, installing some edging, or planting or placing colorful flowers or plants in pots along the walkway.
5. Improve your lawn
The lawn is always a main focal point of your front curb appeal area. If your lawn has brown spots, is full of weeds, is overgrown, or just doesn’t look as lush and vibrant as you’d like, it’s time to put some work into it. One downside of this project is that it’s ongoing. Unlike repairing your walkway, lawn care is not a one-and-done job. That’s why many owners of Green Hills, TN real estate choose to hire a professional to take care of it for them. A pro can get your lawn into tip top shape with a weed-and-feed treatment and maintain it with regular mowing, fertilizing, and edging.
6. Give your garage door an upgrade
If facing the street, your garage door is another main focal point of your home. Like your front door, your garage door may only need a fresh coat of paint to make it curb-appeal friendly. If your door is in bad shape, though, or is outdated, a replacement is the way to go. New garage door designs–like sectional designs with windows–instantly make your home look updated and cared for. While buying and installing a new garage door is not an inexpensive project, it will pay you back in three different ways: by boosting your home’s value, lowering your energy costs, and by being much lower maintenance than older versions.
7. Power wash it
There’s no way around it–the exterior of your home is going to get dirty. And though keeping your home pristine 365 days of a year is not a reasonable expectation for you or others, you can enhance your enjoyment of your home and make sure it sends a positive message by doing some seasonal power washing. Wood, vinyl, concrete, and aluminum are all materials that can be power washed. That means your siding, walk and driveways, and front porch are probably fair game. A power washer is a relatively inexpensive purchase (average cost is around $375). However, if you don’t want to buy one, you can always rent one from your local home store or you can hire someone else to do it for you.
Whether you plan to list your home next month or stay in it for the next 20 years, boosting your curb appeal will lead to huge benefits. If you’ve decided you do want to list and haven’t yet found an agent, reach out to experienced local expert David Hatef. He can give you more ideas to maximize your selling price and help you through the entire process.
