Enhance Your Curb Appeal: Five Things to Organize This Weekend

We’re all told not judge a book by its cover. But, like it or not, your house definitely doesn’t get the same break. Everyone, from neighbors to friends, dinner party guests, and especially visitors to your open house, will form an impression before they step one foot inside. How, you ask? Things like unkempt flower beds, weeds in the driveway cracks, and peeling paint on the front door might not seem like much, but fix them up, and you’ll go a long way toward making your home seem more welcoming and inviting. Spring is one of the most popular times in the real estate market for a reason, so whether you’re planting a For Sale sign in your front yard or not, use this time to rework your entrance. You’ll start hearing that treasured phrase – curb appeal – directed your way.

Here are five things to consider when looking to improve your curb appeal:

1. Winter Mess:

If you thought rakes were just for the fall, think again. Spring is a great time to bring them out again to clean up messy beds and grassy areas that have lingering winter debris, like small branches. Just ten or fifteen minutes with a rake will likely transform your front yard. In addition, winter probably did a number on your plants, so figure out which items may have died and promptly remove them.

2. Mulch:

This is one of those simple things that you can do for your home that doesn’t take a lot of time but makes a huge improvement. Mulch makes everything look neater and cleaner. It even hides some of those dreaded weeds, which translates to less maintenance over time. So head on over to your local garden center and invest in a few bags. You’ll be glad you did.

3. Grab a Notepad:

Walk around your property and make a list of things that need repair. Pay particular attention to outside lights as well as yard accessories, like wind chimes and bird baths. Remember that ice storm back in December? Well, it may have caused some damage that you didn’t notice at the time. Write down everything that needs to be repaired along with the items you will need to purchase, or experts you will need to call, to fix them up.

4. A Can of Paint:

Now it’s time to tackle that tired outdoor furniture. Just because a piece looks a little long in the tooth, your first instinct shouldn’t be to replace it, but to repaint it. There’s almost nothing, short of total rot, that a coat or two of fresh paint can’t help. The same goes for fences.

5. Landscaping:

Just like mulch or a fresh coat of paint, nothing makes a house more inviting than a few blooming plants. Not the digging type? You don’t need the plants to be in the ground. Simply purchase a few attractive containers, fill them with colorful flowering plants, and place them on the front porch or walkway. The blooms will brighten up your front yard considerably.

What do you typically do to enhance the curb appeal of your home? What can you add to this list to make sure a home looks as inviting as we all hope it is? We’d love to hear your tips!