Curb Appeal Tips

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Ever drive through your neighborhood and wish your house looked like "that" house? You know, the one with the perfectly manicured lawn, gardens full of blooming flowers and no visible reason to think the owners have postponed any maintenance what-so-ever.

Here are a few tips to make your house become "that" house in less than a weekend.

Grab a broom and sweep the front porch and wipe away things like cobwebs.

Pull weeds and add fresh mulch to garden areas.

Buy 1 or 2 pretty pots and add colorful annuals. Then set by the front door or at the base of any steps leading to your door.

Add a few solar powered spotlights to the front of your house. Have them positioned to highlight the best features of the front of the house.

Trim any bushes that may have become overgrown. (This is also good for safety and security reasons).

Give your front door and shutters a new coat of paint. Painting all of these a matching color gives your home a classic, traditional feel. Painting the shutters in one color and the front door in another color that stands out gives your home a more modern feel.

If you have room, add a small bench or chairs to the front porch. It gives people the idea that your neighborhood is one where homeowners would sit on their front porch and enjoy their property and neighbors.

Go to a home improvement store and purchase a mix that will get rid of weeds on your lawn while fertilizing. Put down some new grass seed.

If the hardware on your door is rusty, scratched or looks dated, install new hardware in a modern finish like brushed nickel.

Make sure that your house numbers are properly displayed on your mailbox or porch. There are tons of attractive choices at home improvement stores.

Clean the outside of windows. Using newspaper and a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar will make sure the windows are streak-free.

Make sure that all outdoor light fixtures have working light bulbs.

Invest in a new welcome mat.

Need an unbiased opinion on what improvements need to be made in order to enhance the curb appeal of your home? Just ask a Realtor! They have seen first hand what good can come from great curb appeal.

-Written by Maggie Claprood-