You have been noticing that your neighbors have been investing a lot of money in their homes. In fact, the general look of the neighborhood has gone up so much that your home is starting to stick out like an eye sore, and you are beginning to think it might be time to get with the program.
Not to worry, whether you have a fat bank account or simply the energy to make improvements yourself, there are a range of improvements that can really make your home have that awe-inspiring curb appeal. This list is in order of expense.
Clean Up Junk
Many people have a tendency to fill their garage with favorite things and leave their cars outside. It may be time for a storage unit rental. You can put all of the overflow in there and keep your cars in the garage where they belong. There are also storage units that can hold RVs, boats, jet skis, and other equipment that you only need seasonally.
It’s time to look at every angle to see what can be removed from the yard to make the home more appealing. One thing’s for sure, if you have any junk vehicles, it’s time to get rid of them.
Paint the Front Door
The front door of your home should have a warm appeal to it. This is generally done when you transform a darker looking front door and porch area with brighter colors. It only takes a coat of white paint to change the look, and you will only spend $20 to $30 for supplies. You may want to consider painting the frame a lighter color to help make the door stand out and provide an inviting vibe.
Update the Driveway
Fixing problems with the driveway outside your home is a great way to make your home look newer than it actually is. The cost of resurfacing the driveway is around $100 to $200 bucks if you just buy the supplies and do it yourself. It may cost a bit more to hire someone, but it is one of the more affordable updates you can do without breaking the bank.
Get A New Garage Door
Nothing says that a home looks bad like a garage door with more rust than paint—especially if it looks as if someone backed their car into it and left a huge dent. The good news is that a trendy new garage door, the kind with tiny windows and a nice factory perfect paint job, is just the thing to make the neighbors sit up and take notice. Such a simple improvement is sure to give your home a more modern look. If you shop around, you should be able to find someone to make the change for $350 to $500.
Better Landscaping
When your lawn is filled with crabgrass, you end up mowing much more often than someone with fescue. You can either treat your lawn to get rid of it or go for a total makeover with new grass turf. This is especially helpful if your soil is poor. New turf may set you back a few thousand. Doing it yourself takes longer, but you can certainly do this yourself if you are willing to put in the work and go through all of the steps to improve the soil and reseed the lawn.
If your soil is good, you may want to invest in landscaping plants. Flowering trees and bushes add color. As you choose, think about upkeep. The best landscaping doesn’t require constant attention. You don’t want to be worried about keeping boxwoods in perfect shape. Local plants will grow more quickly and require less attention. You can get river rocks and create inexpensive garden beds. Perennial flowering plants will come back every year and help pay for themselves by multiplying.
These beautification efforts should improve your quality of life. Your upgrades may even make you a better neighbor. Best of all, these positive changes may affect your home’s appeal if you decide to sell.