Sellers, Boost Your Summer Curb Appeal with These 5 Easy Tips!
This year has been an incredibly favorable market for sellers. With buyers offering well above asking prices, homes have been moving faster than previous years. But, even with high demand for homes, it’s still critical to put your best foot forward for potential buyers. And even if you’re not planning to sell, there’s nothing like having stunning summer curb appeal.
Winter has come and gone, and the warmer months have brought spring cleaning with them. Many focus on the inside of their house, but the outside also needs some loving care. If you’re looking at selling this summer or just want to elevate your home’s beauty, there are projects both big and small that can make a difference in the look of your house. Here are five of the best projects that are sure to boost your summer curb appeal and show your home in all its glory!
Pressure Wash All the Surfaces
Over time, your home is exposed to many different elements. These can leave your home looking in less than stellar condition. Pressure washing is an excellent, cost-efficient way to increase your curb appeal by cutting through layers of dirt to reveal a pristine surface. Common focus areas for pressure washing are siding, windows, sidewalks and driveways. If you don’t have the budget for a pressure washer, you can rent a machine from most home improvement stores. Or, if you don’t have time or aren’t looking to do the work yourself, you can hire a company to do it for you at a reasonable cost.
Plant New Greenery
If your landscaping is looking tired and drab from the winter months, fresh flowers or trees can make all the difference to completely transform your summer curb appeal. Depending on the look you’re going for, it can be a simple weekend DIY project, or you can hire a professional. If you’re looking to do it yourself, plan it out first. Do you want to keep it simple with just a cleanup and perhaps just fill some planters by the front door? Or are you looking to re-do your whole landscaping with new plants, shrubbery and mulch beds? Talk to a horticulturist at your local garden nursery for recommendations to find the best plants suited for your home. If you want to invest more in the project, a professional landscape designer can do all of the planning for you.
Add a Fresh Coat of Paint
Just like new plants, a fresh coat of paint can create a whole new look for your house and breathe fresh life into your summer curb appeal. Want to keep this summer project simple? Painting the front door alone will make a huge difference, especially if you select a color that pops. Want to take it a step further? Paint everything — door, siding, trim, the sky’s the limit! If you’re having trouble deciding on a color scheme, consider Pantone’s Color of the Year for something both bright and timeless.
While exterior lights aren’t usually top of mind for summer curb appeal projects, new fixtures can create a clean and sophisticated look. And, if you don’t have them already, they can be effective deterrents for crime. Solar-powered pathway lights are a perfect option for accent lighting, since they’re both energy efficient and simple to install.
(READ MORE: How to Make a DIY Scrap Wood Lantern)
Update the Exterior Extras
Sometimes, smaller things that generally go unnoticed can actually make the greatest impact in the overall look of a home. Installing new shutters or even painting the ones you have can freshen up the exterior appearance of your home. In the same way, old gutters, downspouts or even mailboxes can become an eyesore over time, so replacing them can quickly upgrade your home’s curb appeal. Not sure what colors to work with? Depending on the color scheme of your home, going with fresh white, black or even gold can modernize the look of your home with ease.
Whether you complete all of these projects or just one, don’t underestimate just how much it can affect how people see your home. A few exterior updates can freshen up the look of your home without a major renovation, and increase your curb appeal without breaking the bank. And if you’re seller, it could make your home even hotter on this blistering summer market!
