If you’ve spent time with a realtor or watched TV shows on HGTV, you’ve probably heard the phrase ‘curb appeal’ tossed around a lot. As a homeowner, you may not have thought about the curb appeal of your house often. Isn’t that usually just for sellers? You may still find yourself wondering, “What is curb appeal?”
Updating your house can cost time and money, so if you don’t make it a priority, curb appeal can slip way down on your to-do list. But there are a few reasons you should reconsider making curb appeal a top-priority project. We’ll go over the basics of curb appeal, why it’s important, and low-cost curb appeal projects that don’t take up a lot of your time.
What Exactly Is Curb Appeal?
What is curb appeal? It’s a term used to describe how attractive a house looks, from the street (or curb) to passersby. This is a term often used by realtors when evaluating a home on the market. The greater the curb appeal, the more likely there will be offers on the home in a short time.
Often, curb appeal is merely the general aesthetic of the outside of the house. This means that increasing your house’s curb appeal can consist of relatively simple cosmetic updates. You don’t have to go overboard to increase your home’s curb appeal.
Why Should You Care About Curb Appeal?
Is curb appeal important? Curb appeal has the potential to boost the value of your home and is a great investment to make when you are ready to sell your home. If you aren’t ready to sell your home anytime soon, curb appeal projects still matter. You’re much more likely to sit on your porch or hang out with your family in the backyard when you like the way your home looks. Curb appeal raises your standard of living, making you much happier in general.
How Can Curb Appeal Be an Investment?
Curb appeal and home value are tied together. A big reason real estate agents stress the importance of curb appeal is that it makes your house more desirable to buyers. Though you may have to take some time and money to make the outside of your house look inviting to strangers, it’s worth it in the long run. Well-maintained landscaping and fresh coats of paint on the house can work wonders in the overall perceived value of your home. You have to spend a bit of money on these projects, but they are well worth the investment when you can quickly get your money back with an offer on your house.
How Can Curb Appeal Help You Sell Your Home?
If you are selling your house, curb appeal is important to attract qualified buyers. First impressions matter. What is the first thing buyers will see when they drive up to look at your house? Making your home neat, well-kept, and aesthetically pleasing will entice potential buyers as soon as they arrive. A bad first impression of the exterior of your house can sour the mood for the rest of the visit.
You may be asking yourself, “how important is curb appeal really?” Realtors would answer very important. Even if you’ve maintained the inside of your home and completed expensive renovation projects, curb appeal still matters. A rough exterior can signal to buyers that the house has not been well maintained. Buyers don’t want to deal with unforeseen maintenance issues after they’ve bought their new home. They’ll be extra cautious when touring the inside of your home. You never want potential buyers to have scrutiny about the integrity of the home. Sellers need to put their best foot forward and present a well-maintained exterior to get the best offers.
What Are Some Ways to Add Curb Appeal to the Outside of Your Home?
The good news is that you don’t need to spend a lot of money to get a big return on your investment. There are many home improvement projects that don’t take too much time or skill. You don’t need to do extensive renovations to the outside of your home to convey quality and care.
If you’re looking for easy ways to boost your curb appeal and home value, then first take a look at lawn care. Dead grass and a flower bed filled with weeds are not great first impressions of your house. Visitors will assume that you don’t take time to care for your house. So making sure that your grass, plants, and front area are maintained is important to show the quality of your house. You can either do this work by yourself or hire someone to take care of your lawn.
You can also invest in landscaping upgrades, like quality vent covers for your crawlspace. You can toss out the old dirty styrofoam covers and grab some durable covers that are easy to clean. They come in elegant colors that will match your home’s exterior so you can boost your home’s curb appeal. They are also a quick and easy project to do on your own, as the installation process is simple.
Is curb appeal important? If you are trying to sell your home or just looking to find easy improvements that you can make on a budget that will add value to your home, adding more curb appeal is a great idea. You don’t have to spend a lot of money or take on projects that require a good deal of time to complete. Investing in simple things around your yard, like lawn care and vent covers, can be a great place to start improving your home’s curb appeal. If you’re ready to start shopping for quality foundation vent covers, take a look at our different color options.
