Want to Improve Your Curb Appeal? Try These Easy Exterior Projects

The nice weather is here! Birds are chirping, the sun is shining, and it is officially time to start working on those exterior projects you’ve been putting off since last fall.

As more people are beginning to get outside, taking walks around the neighborhood, gardening, spending time on their porch or patio, are you thinking about all those outdoor projects you’ve been planning since last year? Are you ready to improve your home’s curb appeal?

Yes, curb appeal. It’s a term commonly used by realtors and HOA’s to, you guessed it, describe the appeal of your house from the curb. (and also street or sidewalk). The exterior of your home is the first impression you give to visitors. It tells people who you are and what to expect from you. So if you’re wondering if now is the time to start some exterior projects (landscaping, home repairs, painting, etc.), the the answer is yes. You’ve been cooped up, now that you’re outside (but mostly remaining at home), enjoy the outside of your home.

Here are some ideas to get you started, both DIY curb appeal projects and tasks better suited to professionals.

Consider Landscaping Your Property

Looking for a quick and easy way to bring the exterior of your home to life? Try landscaping. Whether you choose to do it yourself or hire a professional, adding a few bushes or flower beds will make a big difference. If you have a small property, possibly a condo, apartment, or even just a tiny house, you can probably improve the look of your property with a bed of flowers or just a nicely manicured lawn. If you have a large property, you may want to consider adding some trees or even hardscaping. If you are unfamiliar with the term hardscaping, it refers to using nonliving “hard” materials such as concrete, slate, rock, or brick to create differentiations in the terrain, create a patio, or even create a retaining wall.

When it comes to landscaping, sometimes a simple curb appeal project like planting some flowers or bushes and laying down new mulch can make a world of difference! If you’re unsure about what to do, our advice would be to start small. Add some weed and feed to your lawn and plants or bushes by the front door. Like the way this looks? Continue onto bigger projects.

A Grand Entrance

Whether you have a sprawling grand porch or a small welcome area, updating the area around your front door will immediately make the entryway to your home more inviting.

The winter weather can wreak havoc on a porch, deck, or entry way. It’s not uncommon to see chipped paint, split or cracked wood, and dirt stains. You may want to consider power washing, sanding, and repainting the area. You’ll be surprised how much a new coat of paint can brighten up and revitalize a space. You’ll also be surprised how quickly a professional can complete this task for you.

Try Power Washing – But Be Careful

Winter rainy weather can have the unsightly impact of adding additional dirt and streaks to your paint or siding. This can make your home, particularly siding, look dirty. Luckily, power washing can be an easy DIY curb appeal project. Power washing can quickly and easily remove dirt, stains, mold, moss, and general exterior build up on your home. But be careful – some power washers offer too much power for the average user. You may want to hire a professional to avoid chipping paint, removing siding, or power washing unevenly. But you’ll be amazed at how new some home surfaces look after a good power washing!

A Fresh Coat of Paint

Whether you recently moved into your new home or you’ve been homeowners for over a decade, it’s likely that your home could benefit from a fresh coat of paint. It will allow you to make the home feel truly yours, or update it to match your current style. You can do the siding, the shutters, the door, the columns that hold up a front awing — there are a ton of fun considerations!

Want to use paint to accent your home but unsure what colors look good together? Contact CertaPro Painters^® of WIinston-Salem for a color consultation.

Attention to Details

Want your home to pop? Look at shutters, gutters, garages, trim, and doors. Do they need to be cleaned, repainted, or replaced? If so, this will quickly make the details of your home more defined and draw the eye.

Planned Annual Maintenance

Perhaps the best curb appeal project is to maintain your home and the landscaping that already exists.

Quick tip: make a list of annual season maintenance. Schedule tasks monthly. This will allow you to accomplish your goals and avoid feeling overwhelmed.

What do we mean when we talk about annual maintenance? If you have landscaping, tend to the flower beds and trim the bushes at the beginning and end of every season. Maintain your home by keeping it clean, removing any dirt, and updating the trim and finishes when necessary. High traffic areas such as the front porch, doors and windows, walk-ways, and driveways should be maintained regularly. In this way, you’ll feel good every time you pull up to your home!

If you don’t have time to perform annual maintenance (or maybe you just don’t want to), you can always hire a landscaping company to revitalize your lawn, flowers, and bushes, and CertaPro^® can help with the rest.

Be the Pride of the Neighborhood

Your home is your castle, make it look nice. If you would like an expert’s opinion on how to improve your curb appeal, or would like to schedule a consultation or estimate, contact CertaPro Painters^® of Winston-Salem.