5 Simple DIY Projects That Instantly Increase Curb Appeal
Posted by Eric Skates on
The prettiest homes are eye-catching and memorable, with beautiful lawns and a sense of style and personality. These homes have excellent curb appeal that creates a welcoming atmosphere. Creating that kind of curb appeal must be an expensive project, right? Actually, with a few simple tasks and regular maintenance, you can beautify your home's exterior without breaking the bank.
1. Add a pop of color to your front door.
Most people's eyes are drawn to the entryway of a home. Creating a pretty focal point is an excellent way to improve the overall look of the house. With a little bit of paint, you can completely transform the front door.
Choose a bright, pretty color that complements the house. If your house is a neutral color, you have a lot of freedom. Nearly any color door looks great with white, gray, and other neutral facades. For example, a yellow front door adds a sunny splash to a home with gray siding.
If your home is a brighter color, use a color wheel to help you choose an opposite shade that suits the house. Perhaps you have a blue home--in that case, a red door is an excellent option. Deep shades of purple or blue on a front door are beautiful choices for a yellow house.
2. Mow, weed, trim, and keep it neat.
We all know how easy it is to let the yard work slip... Unfortunately, this is detrimental to your home's curb appeal. Tall grass, walkways choked with weeds, and unruly hedges are an eyesore to everyone in the neighborhood. Taking care of your own lawn and gardens is a great way to save money, but it's important to develop a strict lawn care schedule and stick to it.
Splitting up the lawn chores can make them more manageable, rather than trying to tackle it all in one day on the weekend. For example, designate one morning or afternoon for mowing and weed whacking. Spend 10 minutes on two different days each week pulling stray weeds from your walkways (this prevents them from building up). Choose another day to spend on gardens and shrubs, weeding, pruning, and trimming. A little bit of work on a regular basis will make the jobs easier and keep your home looking neat and tidy.
3. Patch up your driveway.
It's easy to overlook cracks in the driveway. Sure, we see them every time we pull in and out, but it's not really a big deal--or is it? Small cracks in the driveway allow water to seep under the surface, which eventually makes them bigger. Before you know it, you'll have patches of grass growing up into your driveway, and that's not a good look for any home.
Repairing small cracks in the driveway is a fairly simple project. Cracks should be cleaned of dirt and debris before sealing. Concrete and asphalt require different materials for sealing, so be sure to ask for assistance at your local home improvement store before beginning the project. Sealing your driveway every few years will help to prevent large, irreparable cracks from forming.
4. Get rid of dirt, dust, and mold.
Siding, walkways, and driveways tend to build up a lot of dirt and debris. If the sun doesn't hit your house quite right, you'll also notice mold on the siding. Keeping up with the dust and dirt on all of your outdoor surfaces can really make your house sparkle.
If you have a mold problem in shady areas, you'll need to wash the siding with some sort of cleaning solution. Vinegar and water, oxygen bleach, and dish liquid are all helpful when cleaning mold from siding. Solutions should be sprayed onto the siding and allowed to sit for a short time, then scrubbed with a large, long-handled brush with soft bristles. A garden hose set on high can then be used to rinse the siding.
Siding that's just dusty or dirty can usually be cleaned effectively with a garden hose. To remove debris from walkways and driveways, sweep first with a push broom. Then use your hose to spray the surfaces with water to clean them thoroughly.
To keep the home looking like new, clean windows and trim regularly as well. Windows can be cleaned easily with a large sponge and a solution of vinegar and water or dish liquid and water. Squeegee the excess water from the windows and dry with a soft cloth. These solutions also work well for trim around the windows and doors.
5. Spruce up your mailbox.
Mailboxes often take quite a beating. They are certainly no fans of snow plows... A leaning, chipped, rusting mailbox is certainly not helping any home's curb appeal.
If the post of your mailbox is sturdy and in good shape, you can simply switch out the box for an updated, fresh look. You can also paint your current box to cover small scratches, nicks, or dents. If you need to replace the post as well, you'll need concrete from your local home improvement store.
Some homes have charming wall-mounted mailboxes near the front door. These are even easier to replace, and are available in many unique designs that will add a touch of personality to your home.
Creating curb appeal does take some hard work and dedication, but you don't have to spend a lot of money to make your home look beautiful. A few simple updates and regular maintenance can make all the difference.
Thinking about a bigger home improvement project? We offer a variety of home renovation loan options, contact a local Loan Officer to learn more today, or apply online!