The exterior of a home conveys to passersby how much the owners care about their property. If you’re trying to sell your home, curb appeal can encourage prospective buyers to take a closer look.

The meaning of curb appeal

Curb appeal is how attractive a home appears to someone when it is looked upon from a street distance. A freshly-cut lawn and trimmed hedges make the exterior of any home stand out.

Improving the curb appeal of your home

People can’t help but smile when they see that the exterior of a home is well kept. The good news is that your house can be a tiny one, a mansion, or somewhere in between. Take a little time to enhance its curb appeal. When you do, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the difference it can make in how you and others view your home. What’s more, curb appeal always adds benefits you can measure in terms of home value.

Handle those unattractive aspects around your property

Since you’re used to seeing your home from the outside every day, you might miss what a passerby who has never before seen your home notices. To get a reality check, take pictures of every side of your home. Doing so will help you bring distracting elements into focus.

Specifically, pay attention to:

• Cracking concrete
• Fencing in disrepair
• Graffiti on structures and walkways
• Overgrown grass and weeds
• Too plain of a yard, not interesting
• The trash in the yard and overfilled trash cans

As you can tell, many of those things mentioned are simply exterior upkeep. Fixing them will help you make a great impression when you’re trying to sell your home. With our busy lives, it’s easy to get distracted. However, if you make improvements to your home’s exterior, buyers will take notice.

Public property is another matter. Typically, maintaining clean sidewalks and pothole-free streets in front of your home is the city’s responsibility. To get the debris removed or street repairs completed, call the city and put in a request for maintenance.

A plain exterior needs sprucing up

A bare exterior can cause a home to be overlooked just as much as one with many unattractive elements. If your home’s exterior looks clean but is on the plain side, liven it up. Add some color with flowers, a few complimentary shrubs, maybe even a fruit tree. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. Just by making a few plant additions, you’ll add to your home’s curb appeal.

Powerwash exterior surfaces

This is one of the easiest things you can have done to your home. Matter of fact, hiring a pressure washing service is the best way to bring any dull surface back to life.

Use a professional exterior cleaning service to wash your home:

• Driveway
• Roof
• Siding
• Windows

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