Every house is not a home, but it should be. Whether you plan to sell your house or just want to make a pre-existing home more attractive, there are a few easy ways that you can boost curb appeal.
The main idea behind curb appeal is to give a positive first impression to guests and visitors. When anyone gazes upon your property from the road, it should look amazing. To do that the right way, you should follow our 5 easy steps.
Step 1: Assess the Property
The first step in improving your curb appeal is to identify the eyesores. Make a checklist and keep adding to it as you discover the offenders. Some places to check include the:
- Roof
- Gutters
- Windows
- Doors
- Porch
- Stairs
- Walkways
- Driveway
- Garage
- Landscaping
- Shed
Look for dirt, grime, or otherwise unappealing sights. Do you have a haphazard pile of wood in the front yard, unmaintained landscaping, or bits of tree foliage on your roof? Is there peeling paint, rotting wood, or clutter? Eliminate anything laying on the ground, like hoses or gardening tools. Find an organized solution to spruce up your property in a flash.
Once you have decided what makes you squint and sneer, it’s time to ask around to find out what other people think.
Step 2: Get a 2nd Opinion, and a 3rd, and a 4th…
It’s easy for you to overlook details on or around your own property, especially if you lived in the residence for many years. If your home belongs to an HOA, you’ll get loads of opinions (without asking) in the form of notices and warnings.
However, we don’t all live in an HOA and if you are here looking for ideas, you probably don’t live in one either. But we can all benefit from some constructive criticism, right? Ask neighbors or friends what grabs their attention first and what you can improve on.
Step 3: Prioritize Your List
Once you have a comprehensive list, chances are, you’re feeling overwhelmed and stressed. You assumed it would be 1 to 5 quick fixes and suddenly you have nearly 20 items on your list! Take a moment to relax and breathe!
Boosting your curb appeal is a process that can take months to accomplish. It isn’t a race and you will win in the end as long as you don’t give up.
First, you need to prioritize your list.
They say that cleanliness is next to godliness and as far as curb appeal goes, this couldn’t be closer to the truth. Take every list item that involves cleaning and put it on top. This will be your primary focus. Covering up or repairing old or weathered elements of your property should be next. And eye-catching details like added landscaping, lighting fixtures, and window accents will be last on your agenda.
Take a look at the cleaning section and put the rest to the side. Aaaah, that’s better, isn’t it?
Step 4: Clean the Exterior of Your Property
Everything on the list, even the stuff that needs to be repainted should be cleaned first. Slapping paint over a dirty surface might look good at first, but it won’t hold up. That dust and grime will sit in between the hardened coat of paint and won’t let it adhere properly. After a few months, you’ll notice that your handiwork is heading south fast!
Instead of breaking your back while you perform an entire house wash and clean your vinyl fences, the driveway, walkway, patio, and lanai, call on professionals to pressure wash and soft wash those surfaces for you. You could do more damage and risk injury trying to power wash your home. Hiring trained experts in the field ensures that the right methods and techniques are used to produce excellent results every time.
Calling on professionals to wash your property is not only safer, faster, and easier, it’s the smartest choice you can make for yourself and your home. If you live in the Tampa Bay area, get in touch with your local veteran-owned wash and seal experts, Premier Pro Wash & Seal. With affordable prices and free estimates upfront, you can feel confident that your residence will be washed without costing you a small fortune.
Step 5: Repair and Renovate
Once your home is sparkling clean, your curb appeal will dramatically boost! But your curb appeal mission may only be half done. After you repair obvious problems, it’s time to get creative!
Paint or replace your door, railings, trim around your windows, and gutters to make your house pop! Add fake shutters or extra window trim to make them stand out and look bigger. And pay attention to details like your mailbox and the address on your house to increase the charm of your property.
After you reach Step 5, the sky’s the limit. You can continue to make small improvements to your home over the years, but keeping it clean will be a continual chore. Scheduling regular maintenance with Premier Pro Wash & Seal every 1 to 3 years can keep you on top of your curb appeal with ease.