When most people move into a house, the first thing they do is tackle the interior. After all, this is where you’ll be spending most of your time. However, over the years, this mentality leads to neglect in other areas of the property – especially the exterior. Does this sound familiar? If so, it’s time to take care of the responsibilities you’ve been putting off for so long.
Reasons to Enhance Curb Appeal
People like to say it’s what’s on the inside that really counts, but truthfully, the outside of your home is the only thing 99.99 percent of people will ever see. Thus, the vast majority of people are forced to judge your home by what it looks like from the curb. Here are three specific reasons you should make a commitment to enhancing your curb appeal.
•Enhanced home value. First and foremost, improving curb appeal can directly enhance your home’s value. This is especially true when you’re putting your home on the market. After researching the ROI of specific projects, you’ll quickly realize that a few hundred dollars spent now can mean a few thousand dollars at the closing table.
•More welcoming. Aside from increasing the value of your home, addressing curb appeal makes your home more appealing and more welcoming. If you enjoy entertaining or having guests stay with you, curb appeal goes a long way towards making them feel comfortable.
•Increased satisfaction. Maybe you simply want to feel better about your own property. There’s nothing like pulling into the driveway after a long day of work and taking pride in your home. By addressing curb appeal, you’ll get more enjoyment out of your investment.
As you can see, curb appeal matters for a variety of reasons. Whether you want people to admire your home, you hope to increase the value of your property, or you simply want an increased sense of satisfaction upon pulling into the driveway, enhancing curb appeal is something that should definitely rank high on your list of home ownership priorities.
Five Ways to Boost Your Curb Appeal
The reason so many homeowners never address curb appeal is they have no idea where to start. When viewed from a broad perspective, the challenge of improving curb appeal can be very daunting. That’s why you need to zoom in and focus on a few key elements. Here are some of the best ways to get started:
1. Give the Front Door Some Love
Your front door may seem like a very small feature, but it’s actually one of the key focal points when people look at your home. People’s eyes are naturally drawn towards the entry point and it’s important that you maximize this space.
If your front door is outdated or doesn’t mesh well with the rest of the exterior, you have two options. The first is to paint the door. A simple color change may be all you need to spruce up the exterior. This is something you can do on your own for less than $100.
The second option is to actually replace the door and select an entirely different style, material, and color. According to the 2016 Cost vs. Value report, you can actually recoup 82.3 percent to 91.1 percent of the cost when you eventually place your home on the market. That makes it one of the highest returning exterior home improvement projects on the market.
2. Pressure Wash or Paint Siding
Your home’s siding has a big impact on overall curb appeal. Dirty, dilapidated, or discolored siding will stifle your home’s natural beauty. On the other hand, well-maintained siding will complement the rest of the property.
Again, you have two primary options. You can either pressure wash the siding to remove dirt and stains, or you may choose to actually repaint your home altogether. The latter is obviously much more expensive, but could have a bigger overall impact on the value and appearance of your home.
3. Install Outdoor Lighting
One commonly underutilized exterior addition is outdoor lighting. Strategically placed lighting can make all the difference in the world. Not only does it add a sense of warmth to your home, but it also works as a deterrence to property crime and prevents unnecessary injuries by lighting walkways and paths.
You can either invest in lights that are wired into electrical outlets, or you can go with solar fixtures that require no electricity or wires. The latter don’t provide as much light, but are a more cost-effective option.
4. Improve Landscaping
Landscaping is one of the best investments you can make. Spend a weekend pulling weeds, trimming shrubs, planting flowers, and pressure washing the walkways. You may be surprised by just how much of a difference these small tasks can make.
They key with landscaping is to continually work at it. It’s not something you can do once and then forget about until next year. Spend a few hours out in the yard every week and you’ll find that it’s actually relatively easy to maintain.
5. Upgrade Your Shutters
Have you ever considered upgrading or painting your shutters? For some reason, this is an exterior home improvement project that’s rarely discussed. However, it can have a huge impact on the overall appearance of your home.
Contrary to popular belief, shutters are fairly easy to remove and install. Most snap into place with a couple of screws and can be purchased from local home improvement stores.
Contact John McCarter Construction Today
At John McCarter Construction, we’re considered one of Michigan’s leading construction companies. With more than 25 years in the industry, our family-owned and operated company has grown to employ some of the best carpenters, painters, and exterior service professionals around.
When you work with John McCarter – whether it’s for siding, windows, roofing, doors, or exterior projects – we guarantee you’ll receive high quality work and responsive customer service, at a price that fits your budget.
Contact us today and we’d be happy to provide you with a no obligation, no pressure quote.
