Increasing Your Home’s Curb Appeal

One of the first activities homeowners think about before selling a home is curb appeal and the value of creating a welcoming exterior for buyers. However, increasing curb appeal isn’t an activity restricted to those who are about to put a home on the market.

A pleasant exterior improves the experience a family has while living in the home, and it also adds to the general well-being of the neighborhood. Nice looking homes – even if they have several decades under their collective belts – create an idyllic and pleasant neighborhood.

Here are some projects you may want to consider for improving the appearance of your home whether you’re planning to live in your home for the next five years or the next 50.

Examine and Update the Windows

The windows of your home provide protection from the elements while also letting beneficial, natural light into the rooms. New windows may help you save money on electricity and heating bills, and they’re also an effective way to improve your home’s curb appeal.

Obviously, ordering new windows is one of the larger projects you can do to upgrade your home’s exterior (outside of replacing the roof or getting new siding), but it’s something to consider if you’re living with old, leaky windows.

After installation of your new windows or renovation of your current windows is complete, you’ll want to keep up with cleaning the windows, which is important for keeping the windows in good condition and maintaining curb appeal.

According to the pros at This Old House:

“One of the simplest but most satisfying fix-ups you can do is to make your windows sparkle and shine, letting in clear summer light.”

Cleaning windows in other seasons is important, too. Spring rain tends to leave dirty water spots, and blowing snow can build up and obstruct your view. Consider cleaning your windows at least once a season.

Surprising Ways to Improve Curb Appeal

New windows are a vivid and noticeable way to improve the appearance of your house, but did you know that washing your house can have a significant impact on the value of your home? Over time, your house gets dirty, particularly when you have landscaping and plants around the exterior.

All it takes is a bucket of soapy water and a soft-bristled brush to clean virtually any surface from brick and stucco to wood and vinyl. If you’re washing the exterior of your home, you should think about cleaning the windows at the same time. The great thing about this “update” is that it’s virtually free. Cleanliness on the exterior of a home goes a long way.

Another important project to consider for improving curb appeal is completing repairs. If your budget doesn’t allow you to replace the entire roof, you can probably afford to get it repaired. Make sure the shingles aren’t displaced and that the gutters are cleaned and in tip-top shape.

Look around the exterior of your home for other signs of disrepair where a little elbow grease or a few replacement parts can make a big difference. Perhaps there’s a board in the fence that’s tilted or cracked. Replace it! Maybe you have a few dead plants in your landscaping. Get rid of them and replace the dead plants with a few new bushes.

Boost Curb Appeal on a Weekend

Alongside large projects like replacing the windows and getting a new roof, you also have a variety of inexpensive fixes available for improving your home’s exterior appearance. In fact, you might want to consider getting familiar with a can of paint to redo the front door, trim, and shutters on your home.

According to the DIY Network:

“Most exterior paint will cost you approximately $25 a gallon. To paint your trim, shutters, or front door it on your house, it should not take you more than $100, unless you have a very big house. Painting your home can definitely add some brightness and revive your house while adding curb appeal.”

Other budget-friendly options you have for upgrading the exterior of your home include:

• Get a new mailbox.
• Replace the numbers on your house.
• Upgrade the fixtures (like the lights).
• Replace the door hardware.
• Plant a tree or some flowers.

On their own, each of these improvements isn’t going to drastically change the appearance of your home. However, you’ll greatly improve your home’s curb appeal if you complete at least three of these updates.

The Return-on-Investment of Minor Improvements

If you are selling your home, and you’re interested in boosting curb appeal for that purpose, it’s not necessary to conduct return-on-investment calculations on most exterior upgrades. The value of your home will increase when you perform various updates, but improving curb appeal will help you sell your home fast. A swift sale is worth its weight in gold.

According to House Logic:

“Homes with high curb appeal command higher prices and take less time to sell.”

From attractive landscaping to new fixtures and fresh paint, simple updates can make an incredible difference on how buyers perceive your home.

Ready to Improve the Exterior of Your Home?

Want to improve your home’s curb appeal with new windows? Contact AHT Wisconsin Windows today for a Free No Obligation Quote or call 1-866-367-6560. Want more information before you choose your contractor? Download our FREE hiring guide for Wisconsin-Area residents.