Curb Appeal Tips

Think of your home’s exterior like the cover of a book (yes, cheesy we know!), but the exterior and its condition set the stage for what’s inside the home. Whether you’re interested in selling this year, or just want to make some improvements for your own enjoyment, boosting your home’s curb appeal is often an easy and generally inexpensive way to make your home look nicer and perhaps even add some value!

Love your lawn

Yours doesn’t have to be putting green ready, just make sure it’s getting proper water, trimming, and care! If you have some bald or thin spots, take some time this year to give those areas some TLC, you’d be surprised how much of an impact a lush green lawn makes!

Add in some fresh landscaping

Landscaping is such a broad topic, but it can literally be whatever you have the capacity, skills, and budget for! You could hire professionals to help plan everything out, or it could be as simple as adding some outdoor planters or flower boxes to help accentuate and frame key visual points (i.e. windows and doors). Even a pretty hanging basket can go a long way to enhance your home’s exterior appearance. (i would just make this about flowers instead - landscaping can literally mean 100 different things, and I think the flowers are a good one to call out specifically.

Repaint, stain, or replace your front door

If your front door is looking dingy, or just blends in with the rest of your home try giving it a fresh coat of paint! Or, if you are lucky enough to have an original antique wooden front door, maybe the wood could use some TLC this season to help it last another you know, 100 years. 

Powerwash

We know this is a slippery slope because once you start you can’t seem to stop! (who doesn’t love a good powerwashing video?) But, break out your power washer and try giving your siding, stairs, deck, gutters, etc all a good cleaning. You’ll be shocked by the before and after.

Upgrade your exterior lights

Still hanging onto an out-dated light fixture? Spend some time at a local light shop, or scouring some vintage markets for something that will add a bit more personality to your entrance. 

Level-up your house numbers

This sounds too simple to be effective, but house numbers come in a variety of different textures, sizes, and fonts these days. If you have an early 1900s Craftsman bungalow, maybe you want to lean into your home's original architecture and splurge on some Arts and Crafts style house numbers, or if you have a more modern home you might want to find some clean, simple, and streamlined numbers. Hint: check Etsy for a huge variety of handmade house numbers! 

Clean those gutters

We know gutter cleaning is everyone’s least favorite thing to do, but it matters on so many levels. If your gutters are packed with leaves and debris, chances are you’ll be able to see it from ground level. If your gutters are looking sad and saggy though, consider a full replacement to sharpen up the lines of your home. 

Repair/replace your crumbling concrete stairs

Crumbles are for blue cheese, not concrete, and while concrete is a very durable material, it’s susceptible to settling, cracking, and crumbling over time. If your stairs are in decent shape consider repairing them, but if they are crumbling in multiple places and have pretty significant cracks, it might be time to replace the stairs. Plus, doing so will make a huge improvement in your home’s curb appeal.

Update that mailbox

If you have an old, beat up mailbox it might be time to consider replacing it with something newer! If you live in the city and don’t have a freestanding mailbox, you could check out a modern (or vintage!) wall mounted mailbox to add a nice touch to your front entrance.

Repaint your home, or update siding

Okay yes, this task might not be as simple as a new mailbox, BUT if you know your home needs a good painting, or maybe it’s even time to upgrade your siding, the efforts will go a long way to help visually enhance your home’s exterior! 

Overall, there are so many little things you can do to elevate your home’s curb appeal. Most projects you’re tackling may seem small and insignificant, but in the end all the little details add up to make a large impact on your home’s exterior! If you’re thinking about selling this year too, most of the smaller items on this list are great starting points to get your home ready for the market - but don’t hesitate to reach out to your favorite VIBE agent to get a second opinion!