Home Exterior Remodel – Home Improvements That Add Spark To Your Curb Appeal

Are you selling your house? Do you simply want your home to look great and make a statement? First impressions, they say, make lasting impressions. What does your house say to people who arrive by car?
 
There are so many ways to add sizzle and enhance this first impression. You can do it cheaply or you can spend thousands and thousands of dollars. Home expansions that increase curb appeal would be one way to spend tens of thousands. In this article, I’m going to talk about how you can improve curb appeal without a major addition or addition to the home.
 
Determine your purpose and budget first
 
If you’re selling your house, there’s little point in going crazy. A good “fix” should be fine. If, on the other hand, your goal is to make a statement and significantly increase your own enjoyment, then you could really splurge.
 
Another thing to think about is whether or not you can do some or all of the work yourself. Labor costs may be higher than material costs. If it’s a do-it-yourself home improvement, you may want to favor labor-intensive projects over purchasing materials. Also, when purchasing materials, make sure they are easily installed by the homeowner.
 
Here are some of the most popular and advantageous curb appeal upgrades that lend themselves to DIY:
 
The basic fix
 

• Fresh paint for exterior siding and trim (color coordinated)
• Front and side yards well maintained or groomed
• Flowers, bushes and trees with outdoor lighting
• Lighting for prominent parts of the front elevation of your home
• Cheap shutters for windows.
• Simulated rock/brick for front porch, corners, and other accents
• Well-chosen outdoor furniture and swings for the front porch and patio.
• A new front door and door handle.

 

Now, if money isn’t an issue, you’ll want to do any of the following, which will typically require more expensive materials and a lot of professional labor:

The “Extreme House Exterior Renovation”

• Hire a designer to coordinate the colors and style features of the home.
• Add new siding such as vinyl, cedar, stucco, etc.
• Replace the front windows, doors and trim
• Add shutters and lock boxes around windows
• Replace roof tiles with shingles, metal, or other visible impact shingles
• Give landscaping a complete makeover
• Real stone or brick walls, accents, pillars, and doorways
• Add stone and brick accents, driveways and walkways
• Add permanent arches and awnings to the front elevation of the house

 

The home value bond

 

All your hard work should pay off financially. A good house will benefit greatly from an exterior renovation. Even a “bad” home can be helped. The final point I want to make is that whatever you do, don’t overdo it! Prospective home buyers won’t be looking for the Taj Mahal in a mobile home park.

 

Done right, your exterior makeover can return double or triple the value (or more) of your dollars invested. Do some research, make some decisions, implement your plan, and enjoy the beauty and financial rewards.