Let’s be honest: the way a potential buyer sees your house for the first time will greatly determine the way they feel about buying it in the first place. It will not matter that your interior is state-of-the-art if your home’s curb appeal is non-existent. This is the reason why you should put a lot of effort into making sure that your home exterior is on point and that your house looks great on the outside as well as on the inside. Here’s what exterior improvements you can make to boost the market value of your home:
Front door
If you update your front door, it will significantly increase your home’s curb appeal and make potential buyers notice your house. If your front doors are old and outdated, you can replace them with better and more modern ones. On the other hand, you can also make a few small changes on your old doors to make them look brand new and save some money along the way. Paint them with a bold colour that will make it stand out: bright red, green, or even yellow will usually do the trick. You could also replace the door handle and lock and get more modern ones that will make your home much safer.
Composite decking
As charming as they are, wood decks need to be kept weatherproof, and this often requires a lot of hard work, not to mention all the regular sealing, which can be off-putting for potential buyers. This is why you should consider composite decking instead. It is a pretty big investment (they can go up to $10,000), but it will be returned once you sell it. People are willing to pay more for a home with a deck that isn’t high-maintenance – all you have to do is sweep it. You also won’t have to worry about sealing and staining wood, checking for rotten boards and replacing them, or fear termites. This can be very easy to do if you have the right tools, so search for The Tool Square reviews and find the best professional tool for this type of job.
Landscaping tricks
Your front and back yard, as well as your garden, should always be in pristine condition. If you don’t have time to prune trees and take care of delicate flowers, think about planting perennials that don’t require a lot of hard work (lavender, marigolds, or meadow sage). Mow your lawn regularly, make sure all your shrubs and hedges are trimmed, and be thorough when it comes to pulling out weeds. If you don’t have time or space to keep a huge garden, raised flower beds will do the trick, as will a few plants placed in simple terracotta pots on your deck.
Paint and siding
Even if your home exterior is in good condition, a fresh coat of paint paired with new siding will be a big difference, especially in the eyes of potential buyers. Peeling old paint just won’t do – you need a payer of fresh one that will make your home look good. Not only is this necessary for a better first impression, but it’s also affordable and you can easily do it on your own as long as you prepare everything properly. If you’re thinking about new siding, keep in mind that vinyl one might be more expensive, but it pays off.
Update the windows
Homeowners with single-pane windows should really think about upgrading them for several reasons. First, single-pane windows are outdated and easy to break, which makes your home an easy target for burglars. Replacing them will add an extra level of security and make your home look more modern. What is more, you will also lower your energy bills because they will help keep the warmth inside during colder months. It’s an energy-saving addition that buyers will love having.
Solar panels
When you install solar panels, your energy bills will be significantly lower in the future, which means that your investment will pay off in the long run. Of course, the better the panels, the more your home value increases, and you should pick the right size too. The “middle ground” would be a 5kW solar system, but you can also choose a 3 or a 10kW one if your home is smaller or bigger. Don’t forget that the capacity of solar panels you choose to install should be proportional to the size of your home.
Add a privacy fence
If you want your home to look better and feel safer at the same time, think about getting a high-quality fence. Your fence can be anywhere from 4 to 9 feet high, and you can choose from a variety of materials: wood, stone, or even cast iron. Even though chain-link fences are pretty secure, remember that they don’t look very good and certainly don’t give you any privacy, so try wood or stone fence instead.
Conclusion
While there are certainly some inexpensive modifications you can try to boost your home’s value, if you’re hoping to increase it significantly, you should know that it calls for a nice investment. Only by investing money in good renovations, repairs, and modifications will you be able to get some of it back, because buyers will not hesitate to pay top dollar for such a house. That being said, there are still many smaller DIY projects you can do to save money so you can invest it into something bigger.