Our Curb Appeal Guide: Update and Upgrade Your Front Lawn
With the weather getting nicer, we’re ready to get outside and give our homes the TLC they’ve been needing after this long winter! Adding a few upgrades to the front yard and exterior of your home can not only make it more attractive to potential buyers but will also give your home a fresh, polished look. Whether you’re looking for a Spring Makeover complete overhaul or a quick weekend project, there’s a range of projects you can do that will significantly upgrade your curb appeal!
Color Refresh
There are few things that will make the front of a home feel drab and dull faster than old, chipping or fading paint. As a general guide, wood siding needs to be painted every 3 to 7 years, aluminum siding every 5 years, and stucco every 5 to 6 years.
When choosing paint colors for your home, you want to first look at any aspects of your home that you will not be changing the color of. Your existing brick or stone foundation, patio or accents, roof color, pathways, etc, all play a role in your overlying color schemes. Look for undertones between them that might inform your palette. Are they warm (beige, khaki, brown, and rust) or cool (gray, blue, and black)? Consider paint colors that will tie these fixed elements together in a harmonious way.
A good rule of thumb when selecting colors for the exterior of your home is to limit your palette to no more than 3 colors. If you go with a dark color for your siding, consider classic white trim or another light shade. Conversely, if your primary shade is light, go for a dark trim for a crisp, dramatic effect. Bold accent colors like bold blue shutters or a lemon yellow door can be a great pop to make your home stand out, but we recommend using it sparingly to avoid overwhelming the rest of the palette.
Get Gardening
A massive part of any home’s curb appeal is all about the front lawn greenery and landscaping. There are countless ways to approach the garden layout of your front lawn, from wild and sumptuous plant life to clean-cut and modern flower beds.
For the low-maintenance gardener, opt for bushy ornamental grasses paired with tall, wispy African lilies for a delicate and contemporary look. Or, opt for hydrangeas and lavender for full, elegant greenery with pops of color. For the homeowner who enjoys spending a bit of time curating their garden, you have a true arsenal of Pacific Northwest flowers that will thrive in our climate. Create splashy, bright flower beds with dahlias, azaleas, and knockout roses, or balance out bright hues with leafy natives like Pacific dogwood, Wintercreeper, Wild Ginger, and Honeysuckle bushes. Strategic use of planted trees can help gain your home some privacy by shielding windows or backyard spaces or using smaller trees to frame your entryway and create a welcoming appearance.
Whatever type of gardener you are, careful selection of a handful of plants and landscaping features can fundamentally change your curb appeal for the better.
Clean & Refresh
If you’re looking for a weekend project that’s going to cause an immediate change to the front of your home, it’s time to hit the hardware store for a pressure washer rental. Taking the time to clean off your driveway, garage door, walkways, fences, gutters, and whatever else is looking grungy will instantly give your curb appeal a facelift. We don’t notice the slow buildup of grime and dirt on our home and there’s often nothing more satisfying than watching it blown away by the jet of a pressure washer. Our best tips: use a degreaser on your driveway before pressure washing to target any oil stains, and be sure to start with the least powerful pressure washer setting and build up from there to be sure you don’t damage any surfaces.
On the to-do list for a curb appeal cleanup–break out the weed wacker to trim any unruly edges, spray or pull any weeds that have popped up, and be sure any clutter is cleared away from the yard. Those details may seem small on their own, but they add up to cause a major effect on your overall curb appeal.
Add The Extra Fixings
Now that the front yard is looking polished, clean-cut, and colored beautifully, it’s time to add in the small touches that will help it really stand out.
One important aspect of curb appeal is your mailbox. Though the days of written letters being the standard mode of communication may be long gone, mailboxes are still the calling card of your home. Consider replacing old mailboxes as they start to look old and shabby. New mailboxes can start as low as $20, and a post and concrete can be found and installed very affordably. Be sure when choosing and installing a mailbox that you meet all regulations set forth by the United States Post Office.
Next up, it’s time to update the lighting! Installing new lighting to the entryway of your home will help warm up your front door and keep your home looking beautiful into the night. When buying new exterior light fixtures, think about the style of your home and the function of the lights. To save time and money, you’ll want to choose fixtures that have the same mounting system as your current lights.
A fun and often overlooked element of curb appeal is the actual house numbers on your property. According to the Clark County ordinance, your house numbers must be clearly visible to traffic and must be three inches high or taller (for properties less than 25 feet from the curb). Other than that, the design, style, and placement of them are up to you! Purchase large planters to place by your mailbox to feature house numbers, or go for a modern effect with modern fonts on sleek fence lines. Your house numbers are a part of your home’s personality, so as long as they’re clearly legible, you can get creative and really make them match your style.
Whatever your curb appeal and home-style, if you’d like professional advice on preparing your home for sale both inside and out, be sure to give Rowena a call today. We pride ourselves in assisting clients through each and every step of the home sale process, so you can be sure you are presenting the very best version of your home possible to prospective buyers. Get in touch with Rowena at 360-909-6399 or at Rowena@GoWithRo.com