Six Simple Projects to Enhance Your Home’s Curb Appeal
Are you thinking about putting your house on the market? Is it finally time to start having friends over for barbecues? Or, would you just like your home to look more impressive from the road? Whatever your aspirations, enhancing curb appeal is one of the easiest and most budget-friendly ways to boost the appearance and value of your property. If you’re ready to take the look of your home to the next level, here are six simple projects that can get you there.
Shaping Up
One of the first things you should do to boost curb appeal is trim trees and shrubs that are overgrown, have broken limbs, or have dead branches. For dense shrubs, an electric hedge trimmer can have this task done in no time. For larger trees and shrubs, consider enlisting the help of a profession who will know how to do the work safely and without damaging the look of the plant. You may be surprised by how much of a difference grooming your trees and shrubs will make to your home’s appearance.
Mulching
If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to add pop to your property, and it hasn’t been done in a while, a fresh layer of shredded hardwood or other organic mulch is the way to go. Adding mulch to your garden beds and around your trees not only makes your shrubs and perennials look fuller and more vibrant, it also helps protect the plants’ roots and prolongs their life. Depending on the quality of mulch you choose, a bag of mulch will cost you $2 to $7, making this an inexpensive upgrade. Be sure to calculate how much you need, and never over mulch a bed. Generally, a residential landscape only needs two to four inches of mulch cover.
Cleaning the Gutters
While you’re grooming and cleaning up your yard and plants, consider tackling the gutters, too. Emptying your gutters of leaves, small limbs, acorns, and other debris will help them function properly, saving your home from the look of dirty overflow and potential damage. Scrubbing down the outside of your gutters, too, will help them look as good as new while adding a nice shine to your property’s appearance.
Outdoor Lighting
Another way to add interest and aesthetic appeal to your property is to install landscape lighting. Whether it’s your driveway, entranceway, garden, home facade, or any other dark area, bringing some light in will make your home appear more inviting, day and night, while also increasing safety for you and your visitors. And, if you already have outdoor light fixtures such as wall lanterns, floodlights, and pathway lights, give them a good cleaning, both inside and out to ensure that they shine brightly at night and look nice by day.
New Mailbox
One of the quickest and easiest projects to improve curb appeal is installing a new mailbox. Your mailbox is often the first thing people see when they pull up to your property, so replacing your rusty, outdated one with a more modern and stylish box can make a noticeable difference. Change out the post while you’re at it, and pour a new concrete foundation to make sure the mailbox stands tall and withstands the abuses of its curbside environment. If you already have a quality mailbox that just needs a little sprucing up, consider giving it a makeover by putting on new house numbers in a more modern font or by painting it a new color.
Decluttering the Porch
While it’s important how your home looks from the road, you want it to be attractive to your guests as they approach the front door, as well. If you have a front porch, it may be time to declutter and neaten it up. Broom sweeping and removing debris such as sticks, leaves, and clods of dirt can go along way, but be sure also that there aren’t a collection of personal items, such as shoes, toys, tools sitting around next to the door or on the steps. When it comes to décor, too, less is more. One featured piece complemented by a few smaller items is all you really need to make a statement.
Boosting curb appeal will add to your home’s value and make for great first impressions. Consider calling a local company to prune your trees and shrubs, add mulch to your planting beds, or clean your gutters inside and out. Make your property more aesthetically pleasing and safer with landscape lighting, and consider whether it’s time for a new mailbox. Finally, clean up your front porch to put the focus back onto your house and gardens. Easy, practical projects like these can make a big difference in the overall appeal of your property.
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