Cost-efficient Tips for Homeowners to Increase Their Curb Appeal

January 1, 2019

How does cost-efficiently increasing your home’s curb appeal in a very short amount of time sound? If you’re like most homeowners, that sounds pretty great.

With the housing market coming back, you still have millions of homeowners scratching their hands wondering what they can do to eke the most value out of their homes. The interesting thing is that homes with more curb appeal – a combination of aesthetics and practicality that buyers are scouting when they shop around for a new home – sell quicker and command higher prices.

And the good news is that you can give the front of your home a significant facelift without breaking the bank or dedicating hundreds of hours to each project. Just clipping your hedges and manicuring your lawn can make your home look so much better. As can sanding your deck, repainting your mailbox or adding a home outdoor awning over your front door or front windows.

Tips for Substantially Increasing Your Home’s Curb Appeal 

What you’ll find as we walk you through this list is that many of these suggestions work hand-in-hand with one another to increase your home’s value.

Wash Away the Grime

Over the years, your home has likely collected a thick layer of dirt, grime and mildew on its superficial surface. Applying soapy water and a finely bristled brush, and an extra helping of elbow grease, to the front of your home can significantly increase its curb appeal.

By how much? The National Association of Realtors estimates that washing your home’s facade with soapy water – or a power washer to really fracture away all the grime that’s been collecting for decades – can augment your home’s value by up to $15,000 when you do the job right.

Cleaning the front of your home says to the neighbors and homebuyers that you take your home’s upkeep seriously, and it also provides an alley-oop, if you will, to the next suggestion on our list.

Paint Your Home’s Exterior

There’s almost nothing worse from a realtor’s or future homeowner’s perspective than seeing an otherwise beautiful home marred by fraying paint or a roof desperately in need of re-shingling. Buyers obviously view a nicely painted home as a sine qua non before purchase – since it will be an expense that they’ll have to front otherwise after purchase. And just consider: A full 63% of homebuyers will check in personally if they like want they see online.

So, painting your home before showing it can save you a ton of time and hassle, and you’d be surprised the amount of extra curb appeal you can eke out given how affordable applying a fresh coat can be. A medium-sized home of 3,000 square feet can usually be painted for less than $3,000 in total: usually under $1,000 for paint and just under $2,000 for the labor cost of applying a fresh coat of paint. If you’re not having it professionally done, considering flaking a bit off yourself and matching the color at Lowe’s or Home Depot.

Add an Outdoor Awning Out Front

Adding an outdoor awning really gets at the heart of increasing your home’s curb appeal – they look great and retractable roller awnings as well as side panels and solar shades also serve a practical function.

Window awnings made out of fabric allow you to customize the size, shape and color exactly to your home’s specifications, and the added professionalism will really curry favor with neighbors, homebuyers, and your friends and family. Awnings are an elegant, yet practical, way to spruce up your home’s value. Get a free quote online from The New Dorchester Awning Company today.