Springtime can present many difficulties when it comes to curb appeal.
For many areas of the country, this time of year means brown lawns, leafless bushes and trees, and a depressing lack of color.
With the spring comes the hope of the color splashes and lush landscapes that go hand in hand with summer, but what can be done now?
Improving curb appeal has shown to increase not only your property’s value, but also the property values of your entire neighborhood.
Whether you are selling or staying put, here are five tips that can help you on your way to a beautiful home.
1. Mailbox:
This may be the first part of your property that your guests or prospective buyers step foot on. Literally.
And it is a pet peeve of mine. I see million dollar homes that have a broken, battered and beat-up mailbox. They are not expensive and can create a beautiful first impression. But take it one step further and do a little landscaping around the base of your mailbox.
2. Sidewalks and Driveways:
An affordable, virtually maintenance free option for sprucing up your paths is concrete stain. It can cost around $30 a gallon and requires very little prep work. This is a do-it-yourself project.
Consider picking a color that is in the same color family as that of your home. A blue home could be happily complemented by a gray drive.
Another tip: Fix cracks and uneven sections. This project may require a bit more professional attention, but will give buyers the impression that your entire home, not just the entrance, has been maintained.
3. Accent Door:
It has been called the lipstick on the lady. It’s inviting and it draws visitors – or buyers – in to your home. A plain door tends to recede into the background.
Consider a contrasting color to the siding of your home. On the color wheel, green is opposite red and yellow is opposite blue. Don’t be afraid to be daring (think a fuchsia door on a cream colored home). Just a pint of paint can cover most doors, and if you don’t like the result – you can try another color!
Check past issues of my blog for a great article about door colors.
4. Trimming Trees:
Stand in front of your home (across the street is better) and take a close – and fresh – look at your trees and bushes. Are there branches that have become overgrown and now obstruct the view of the home?
You want your landscaping to complement your home, not hide it. Trees should frame paths and entries. To trim tree branches yourself you can buy a pole pruner or chain saw. Or you can hire a professional, who has experience in shaping trees.
Keep in mind, however, that spring is NOT the time to prune flowering trees or maples. These should be done in late summer and early fall.
5. Outdoor Lighting:
Low voltage (12 volt) and solar lighting are great options for improving curb appeal.
There are hundreds of designs of solar lights and the LED lights are very striking. These small fixtures are generally set on stakes in the ground and can be used to accent paths or gardens. And they are a great do-it-yourself option.
Also, consider using uplighting on trees to create night-time focal points – great for buyers doing after work drive by inspections.
As a certified Home Staging Professional as well as a terrific Realtor, I’d be happy to give you a free “curb appeal audit” and give you pointers to better curb appeal. You can contact me any time or visit my website http://www.NormaSellsNJHomes.com