Adding Curb Appeal to Enhance Your Home

Late winter and early spring (as the weather permits) is a great time to work on the curb appeal for your house. First impressions are lasting impressions, and since that is true, the outside of your house is vital to home values and overall look. Consider a few simple steps which will pay off with a beautiful exterior worthy of our home.

Clean out gutters and make sure down spouts are unclogged and working without leaks. Clogged gutters cause water to spill over and can decay the wood facing of your boxing. Make sure the gutters and down spouts are free of leaves and other trash.

Consider pressure washing all siding and gutters. Pressure washing prevents staining of siding and gutters and makes your home look fresh and clean. Be sure to clean window shutters as well.

Touch up paint peels and chips. Ideally, vinyl coating all exposed wood surfaces makes your home low maintenance. If the surface is exposed wood, touch up all painted surfaces and repaint on a regular basis. It does not take years of neglect for irreparable damage to be done to wood.

Trimming and weeding hedges in preparation for spring growth. This is a good time to trim hedges before the spring growing season begins and the sap rises in plants. Remove any dead branches and shape hedges to desired length. Remove any weeds and consider thinning plants to allow growth space. Cover ground space with bark to give a consistent and tended appearance.

Pressure wash porches and walks to remove grime and dirt. Clean all porch, patio, and sidewalks to remove winter dirt and residue. Clean patio furniture and grills as well to prepare for the coming season. Be sure to check your propane tank to ensure you have enough gas for summer use.

Wash outside windows and touch up paint. Spring is a great time to clean windows and get rid of the winter dirt. Wash first with soap and water and then clean with vinegar and dry with old newspapers to prevent streaking. When dry, check to see if re-caulking is needed around windows. Match caulking to paint color or use clear. Note: Be sure to use the correct caulking for the job.

Add design to porches and patios by creating cozy conversation nooks. Rearrange porch and patio furniture to make small, intimate conversation areas where you can enjoy time with family and friends. These areas are also helpful if you are selling your house. Prospective buyers need to envision themselves living in your space, and these intimate areas are highly personable.

Create an outdoor kitchen and dining space. Do you have some extra outdoor space? Why not create a grill and dining area? Besides being highly attractive, this area is a wonderful place to relax with family and friends during the spring and summer months.

Conclusion

The rule is that no one cares much about how nice your house is inside if the outside looks unkempt. Cleaning up the outside and having a neat home takes some hard work to achieve and an investment in time to maintain, but it will pay you back time and again. Why not make a list of outside projects today and get started on your spring cleanup?