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When sprucing up your home before a sale, make sure you do not forget about the exterior. It is easy to become preoccupied staging the home's interior and updating key rooms, but failing to think about the curb appeal of your property could cost you. The outside of your home is the first thing people see when they arrive. You only get one chance to make a first impression, which is why a well-maintained exterior can contribute substantially to the value of a home and help it sell faster. 

Even if you are not thinking about selling anytime soon, improving your home's curb appeal can be a good idea. After all, you also have to see the outside of your home every day, and the nicer it looks the more pleased you will be when pulling into your driveway. 

There are many ways to give your home's exterior a fantastic makeover: 

A clean exterior can raise your sale price by $10,000 and $15,000.

1. Clean It 

No one likes to look at dirt and grunge, and it may surprise you to learn that giving the outside of your home a simple clean can make a big difference.

Now, a truly good clean could cost you several hundred dollars if you hire professionals, as you want to make sure every inch of your home's exterior, including the garage doors, is scrubbed and spotless. You can also rent power washers for about $75 per day. This investment can be well worth it. A thoroughly cleaned outside can result in a rise in sale price of between $10,000  and $15,000.1

2. Upgrade the Hardware 

Your mailbox and house numbers provide great opportunities to get creative and give your home's exterior some extra flare. If either of these appear old or in disarray, it could be a turnoff to buyers, so the first thing you should do is at least make sure they're clean and well put together.

Beyond that, you can make them an integral part of your home's exterior design by coordinating their colors with that of the house, adding some flowers around the mailbox or incorporating some other visually appealing decorative technique.

3. Give it a Fresh Coat of Paint 

Giving your home a fresh paint job is costly, but it can make the property very appealing to homebuyers. If you do decide to repaint, it is best to stick with neutral colors. You want your home to stand out in a good way, and painting it an extremely bright color, especially if it strongly contrasts the house's trim, can accentuate its flaws. It is best to use similar colors for the property's trim and body and also to choose colors found in nature, such as a deep red or muted green.

4. Add Lighting 

Lighting is not only a fantastic addition for aesthetic reasons, but it can also be appealing for the extra security it provides. It is hard to feel safe walking through a pitch-black front yard at night, and showing homebuyers they won't have to deal with installing their own front lighting when they move in could help increase interest in your property. 

Use low-voltage landscape lighting to brighten up a walkway, or as accent lighting in the trees. Solar fixtures are a good alternative for those who cannot use lights involving wiring outside, though they tend to have a lower brightness.3

5. Update the Front Door 

As with all other elements of your home's exterior, your first task is to make sure the front door is completely clean. Beyond that, consider replacing it with a custom wood door or even painting it a bold color. You may not want your entire house to stand out with a bold paint job, but giving the door something a little stronger than neutral, perhaps a nice red or blue, could provide your home with just the right amount of pizzazz it needs. 

https://youtu.be/2gsPCmofw5A 

6. Maintain the Lawn 

Your lawn should be well cared for, with healthy green grass and no overgrown plants. Adding a garden is also a great idea. If gardening is not your thing, consider creating a container garden by purchasing plants in ready-made containers that can help you create a garden with ease. 

7. Fix Up the Roof 

Roofs that are not maintained well can cause problems, and buyers will notice if your roof does not look like it has been taken care of. Hire a professional to give it a good clean as well as to replace any damaged or missing shingles. In addition, consider replacing or updating your gutters and downspouts. 

The exterior appearance of a home should be a priority, not an afterthought for sellers, and while there are many more ways to increase curb appeal, these seven options are certainly a great place to start. 

Sources 

1HouseLogic
2Time
3Better Homes and Gardens