7 Easy & Cheap Ways To Boost Curb Appeal

Just like when meeting new people, when potential buyers are looking at your home, first impression is key.

Whether you’re looking to sell your home or just want to give it a bit of an update, these simple (and budget-friendly!) curb appeal ideas will take your home from drab to fabulous with just a weekend’s worth of effort.

1. Be your own worst critic

Take a good look at your home with the discerning eye of a potential home buyer. Maybe even drive by to get the full effect. What do you see—missing shingle there, tilted mailbox there? Make a list of the imperfections you find, order them from easiest to the most difficult, and get to work on correcting those issues. Some of the easiest curb appeal improvements to be made are the small cosmetic things that you’ve just learned to overlook.

2. Wash those windows

This curb appeal idea doesn’t cost you anything but time and can make a huge difference in how your home looks from the street. Clean windows also let in better light, giving your home a soft glow that will make potential buyers or guests feel instantly at home. Rather than go the elbow grease and wadded up paper towel route, make your life easier by using a squeegee like the pros. Not only will it expedite the process, but your windows will look much cleaner in the end.

3.  Freshen the paint job

A fresh coat of paint can make almost anything look new. Choosing exterior paint color can be daunting, but can make a huge difference in the overall look of your home. To determine which colors are right for you, be sure to consider the areas of your home that will remain the same such as shingles, tiles or stonework, and choose a color scheme that is complimentary to those. You should also consider the home’s architectural style and era when making your decisions, so the overall color is appropriate to your home’s style. Stuck for ideas? Go for a drive and observe other home color schemes that you admire. Sometimes it’s easier to make a decision with visual help, so take a photo of colors you like to serve as your guide when it comes to paint selection.

4. Put the pressure on

Pressure washing is a great budget-friendly way to totally transform your home! Wash away years of grime from your siding, driveway, deck and walkways to reveal what your home looked like when it was brand new. If you don’t own a pressure washer, many local home improvement stores offer rental options for a small fee per day.

5. Tidy up your landscaping

Even the most beautiful home can be upstaged by a scraggly yard. Trim overgrown hedges, weed unruly flower beds and plant some colorful flowers to liven up your home. Choose plants that are easy to maintain—even if you love gardening, a potential buyer might look at the responsibility of caring for finicky plants as a chore. Also, lean toward plants that are native to the Chattanooga area. Not only will they be more likely to live through our weather, they enhance the ecosystem by attracting diverse varieties of birds, butterflies and animals. For more information on native plants and where to find them in our area, visit the Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones’ website at tennesseevalley.wildones.org.

6. Give your front door a makeover

Chipping paint on a front door isn’t very inviting. Scrape off the old and go with a fresh new look by painting the door trim a contrasting color to your home, and then choose a complimentary color for the door. We love the combination of grey and yellow for a more modern look. Another easy fix for added curb appeal is to add house numbers to your door. Not only are they functional, but they create a style statement with minimal effort.

7. Add personalized touches for extra character

Not all home improvement has to be a chore! Add some personality to your home with inexpensive touches like a new welcome mat, a DIY container garden or a seasonal wreath. These extra little things will make your house really feel like a home, creating a warmth that guests and potential buyers alike will notice and love.

Image credit: “Untitled” by one2c900d is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.