Four Ways to Increase Your Curb Appeal

How would you rate your home’s curb appeal? If you’re trying to sell, let’s hope its good!

Curb appeal is crucial to helping your home sell fast and for more. When prepping a home to sell, people often focus on the inside — painting, refinishing floors and staging. This is all 100% necessary, but you can’t neglect the outside either, because first impressions can make or break you.

That being said, you don’t have to hire a professional landscaper to get your home noticed. Most of the work can be done yourself, without breaking the bank.

DIY – painting door.

Here are four ways to make your home’s exterior stand out:

1) Paint the Front Door

If your front door has cracked or peeling paint, it’s time for a fresh coat. Also, color trends often change, if your door hasn’t been painted in a long time, you may want to consider an updated color such as navy blue or maroon. While you’re at it, go ahead and spruce up the entire front stoop. Consider adding a new welcome mat or potted plant to go with your freshly painted door.

2) Yard Maintenance

Everyone’s least favorite chore, but probably the most important thing you can do when selling. Basic tasks like mowing the lawn, trimming edges and pulling weeds can make all the difference. Make sure to remove any debris such as leaves or fallen branches from your yard. Maybe even spring for some new mulch or flowers to add a finishing touch!

3) Light it Up

Proper lighting not only allows potential buyers to see your place at night, but it also adds a level of security. Start off by updating what you have– switch out old lights for new bulbs that are energy-efficient and offer better lighting. If you don’t have much lighting, to begin with, consider pathway lights (bonus points if they’re solar-powered) that will illuminate your walkway at night.

4) Gutters, Cracks and More

This is probably the most labor-intensive category, but necessary nonetheless. As houses age, cracks develop, fences get worn, gutters are over-do for cleaning. Now is your chance to update anything that has developed as an eyesore. Think of it this way, instead of adding new things to your exterior, consider updating what you already have — that’s all you typically need to improve your home’s curb appeal.

Eco-Friendly Upgrades That Are Worth the Investment

There are many ways to add eco-friendly upgrades to your home that will help the environment and save you money in the long run. Some require a bigger investment and others are a no brainer. Regardless of whether you start small or jump straight into solar panels, you’ll still reduce energy costs + help out the environment — so it’s a win-win!

Below are four eco-friendly home upgrades that will have a significant impact on your savings.  

1) Appliances

Eco-friendly appliances such as washers, dryers, dishwashers, and refrigerators, conserve more energy and use less water. They’re a little more expensive, but if you’re already installing new appliances, it makes sense to splurge for energy-efficient ones. If all your appliances are still in good shape, there’s no reason to replace them all, but if one dies, consider replacing it with an energy-efficient model. If you continue to do this over time, you’ll end up with serious savings.

Eco-friendly Appliances.

2) LED Lighting

LED lighting is perhaps the most affordable eco-friendly upgrade you can make. Unlike appliances, it’s worth it to replace all of your bulbs even if they haven’t burned out yet. An LED light uses approximately 20% of the energy required for an incandescent bulb with the same lighting quality, so switching out your current bulbs will payout in no time at all.

Eco-friendly LED light bulb.

3) Windows

If you’ve been considering upgrading your windows, now is the time to spring for some extra insulation. Cheap or improperly sealed windows can be the reason for out of control energy bills, which makes sense as windows protect your home from the elements. If you’re looking to upgrade, opt for double glazed windows. It will cost more upfront, but proper insulation makes a huge difference.

White window glass.

4) Solar Panels

This is by far the most expensive option, but if you’re serious about making an impact and reducing your home’s energy costs, solar panels are the way to go. This is an upgrade that will pay off over time, so it’s probably not the best idea if you’re planning to move in the near future. Although, when you do decide to move, solar panels can give you a hefty return on investment.

Solar panels on the roof of the house