How do I dress up my home so I have great curb appeal?

There are two articles you may want to read in addition to this one that deal with “Curb Appeal” and why it is critical. The articles are “Corner to Corner” paint job and Is painting necessary in and out.

The best way to evaluate the curb appeal of your home is to ask a neighbor to look at it with you. You are used to seeing issues and overlooking them and your neighbor isn’t. Start with the palm trees and shrubs, do they need pruning or trimming, if so add it to your list. Then the roof, is it mildewed, if so add it to the list.

Next is the appearance of the paint on the side of the home that faces the street, is it faded and bland, if so, add it to the list. Look at the front door, is it boring or faded too, if so add it to the list. All of the remedies to these painting issues can be found in article #14. Don’t forget the driveway, is it stained and looks like you change your oil there weekly?

On to the landscaping that is oh so important. As we live in homes for years we have a tendency to not notice things like overgrown hedges and dead palm fronds to name but a few. Most of the sprucing up of your landscaping can be done by you if you are so inclined and should be. Don’t forget the mulch, it adds a look of freshness and the cedar mulch smells wonderful as well.

The lawn should be freshly cut every couple of days even though it won’t need it that often. There is something clean and fresh looking about a just cup lawn, even if it’s only the front yard, because that is what the buyers will see first.

Another personal favorite of mine is to go to a nursery or Home Depot and buy one of the medium size ornate pots and put some very colorful flowers in them and place them on either side of the entrance to your driveway as well as to the entrance to your home. People love color and fragrance and you can accomplish both for less than a hundred dollars by doing it yourself and it adds so much to that all important “First Impression and Curb Appeal”.