What is Curb Appeal?

Curb appeal - you've heard of it, but you're not exactly sure what it is. Flowers by your front door? Landscaping edging around your trees? You know it's about making your home pretty, but not exactly sure what all it involves.  Lets try and simplify things for you.

What is Curb Appeal?

Curb appeal (other than the popular TV show) is simply the attractiveness of your home from the outdoors. Curb appeal is especially important if you're trying to sell your home. As potential buyers drive by your house, it needs to look like it's been maintained well. It needs to be "cute" and inviting. Good curb appeal will get a lot of attention - both from buyers and non-buyers. Even if you're not looking to sell your home, a house with good curb appeal will have several cars driving by very slowly, trying to steal a glimpse at your attractive home.Curb appeal can involved both your front and back yard. Maintaining your home, and your yard, is important when keeping up the outdoor living spaces of your home. Prospective buyers, and neighbors will enjoy your home more - and even be more likely to pay your asking price, when the home looks well-maintained and attractive from the outside.

How to Improve your Curb Appeal

If you'd like to improve your curb appeal, below are a few ideas. Even if you're not putting your house up for sale this spring, improving your curb appeal will help you keep up your property value. Plus, everyone likes coming home to a cute house.

Paint and Wash Your House for Curb Appeal

As you begin increasing the beauty of your home, look at the paint job. Is the paint peeling or chipping? Is it a popular and in-style color? Make sure that your home has a great coat of paint on it, and that everything from the sides, shutters and trim is well-coated in a beautiful color of paint. If you don't need a new coat of paint, make sure that the exterior is cleaned. Power wash your windows, porch, gutters and siding to get a fresh, clean look.

Treat Your Yard for Curb Appeal

While we know kids love dandelions and consider them beautiful flowers; unfortunately, home buyers do not. Make sure your yard is well-maintained, mowed, and free of weeds. Rid any pest problems you may have, and keep your yard in great shape.

Add Landscaping Edging and Curbing for Curb Appeal

Landscaping edging will improve your curb appeal. From walkways to garden paths, having edging around your front and back yard will make your home look more sophisticated. Edging has multiple benefits in addition to its cosmetic improvements such as weed control and irrigation.

Add Nighttime Curb Appeal

Remember that not everyone who drives by your home will be viewing it in daylight. You can add curb appeal to your home at night by installing curb lighting around your landscaping areas and driveway. Create a well-lit path to your front door, or even down the perimeter of your driveway skirt. A post light could also work, depending on the style of your home and layout.

Plant Flowers for Curb Appeal

Probably the most well-known way to improve curb appeal is planting flowers. Make sure to find seasonal flowers that will stay abloom all season long, and even into summer. From planting flowers in your flower beds to arranging gorgeous containers, make sure you have flowers and plants all around your home.

Get a Door Wreath for Curb Appeal

A final touch on improving your home appeal is adding a cute, seasonal wreath to your door. Several craft stores and department stores sell affordable wreaths. It's inviting and friendly, and will definitely get your home some extra attention!