Driving around town or through any neighborhood, we all do it. We judge houses based on what we see from the outside–but are we even aware of how we judge them?
There are a few basic items that stick out in my mind when I think about houses that look nice and appealing, like I might like to live there. Let’s dive in and see if they match what you look at when you drive by.
Something about clean spaces really sticks out to me. Although I respect people who like lots of lovely decorations in their yards, my approach is more minimal. To me, the cleanliness makes a more inviting look. My suggestions, as you will see, go a long way to maximize a fresh and clean look.
- Pressure wash the exterior of your home and any concrete. Is the concrete dark and dirty? Slick looking? If so, you have stuff growing in your concrete and probably also on the surface of your home. Let’s get that cleaned up. You will probably be AMAZED at how much nicer it looks, and wish you had done it sooner! But with vinyl siding, start in an inconspicuous location and watch closely as you are washing the siding, to make sure you aren’t damaging it.
- Cut back any overgrown landscaping. Big bushes and trees that cover the front of your home are distracting, and can provide cover for would-be criminals who want to enter through your windows. And if that isn’t enough to make you want to trim them back, how about the fact that insects like to use the branches for nesting? Or the fact that a lot of bugs like to eat the rotting leaves and other droppings from around the bushes? As for trees, you may want to re-assess whether or not to even keep trees that are within a few feet of your house. Tree roots in close proximity to a house can damage foundations as well as plumbing and septic lines.
- Replace dead light bulbs. Why? Nobody sees that when I turn on the light only one bulb lights up instead of two. Right? What about when your home is seen at night? A well-lit house looks much more charming in the night hours. You can even choose to add lighting to accentuate some of those newly-enhanced landscape features for double the curb appeal!
This is just a quick list of do-it-yourself items you can complete in a weekend. There are many more enhancements and upgrades you can do to improve the curb appeal of your home, and I would love to hear some of your favorites in the comments below!
And for more information about how tree roots damage foundations, visit Perdue University’s website here.
