When looking to improve a home's curb appeal there are many ways to go about it. Most are easy and some may be better left to professionals. The options range from things like weeding the flower beds to resealing the driveway.
One of the easiest things to do is to make the entrance more inviting. This can be accomplished in several ways. One way is to paint your front door. You want your front door to really stand out from the rest of the home. Another way is to add attractive house numbers by the front door. It is surprising how much of an impact simply placing a nice looking wreath on the front door has. These can all be accomplished for relatively cheap as well.
Another thing that can be done to increase curb appeal is to take care of the lawn. This includes mowing the grass regularly as well as edging walkways and driveways. This can be done by the homeowner fairly easily or professionals can be called in as well. If the lawn is not as green as you would like it, there is green lawn spray paint that is Eco-friendly. A quart of lawn paint will cost less than 30 dollars.
Unkempt flower beds can wreak havoc on curb appeal. There are several ways to combat this. Always make sure to pull weeds from the beds as well as keep fresh mulch down as often as possible. The mulch helps prevent weeds and maintains moisture for plants. Switching out flowers depending on the season can help as well. Bright, vibrant colors during Spring and Summer and darker colors during the Fall.
Dirty sidewalks also drive down curb appeal. Cleaning sidewalks is easily done using a garden hose. If the walkway is extremely dirty, a power washer may be the best bet. Use it with caution however, as they are powerful and can damage walkways as well as doors and windows in the process.
One of the first things people see when they drive by is the driveway. A messy driveway will certainly drive down curb appeal. Make sure to keep recycle and trash containers off of the driveway and out of sight. Move the containers to the side of the home or inside the garage if possible. Patch or reseal the driveway to take care of any small cracks.
Keeping windows clean inside and out is another great way to increase the curb appeal. Begin by spraying the outer windows with the garden hose in order to remove any spiderwebs and loose dirt. In order to really make the windows shine, dilute detergent or vinegar in warm water and use a sponge to scrub the window. Doing this costs next to nothing and adds a sparkle to the home.
These are just a handful of the ways that curb appeal can be maintained or increased, there are several other things that can also be done. Remember, when it comes to curb appeal; what's outside really does matter.