5 Interesting Ways to Improve Your Home's Curb Appeal

You’re getting ready to put your house on the market and scurrying to make everything look perfect for potential buyers. While it’s important to focus on readying your home’s interior for viewing, remember not to neglect your exterior. According to some estimates, 81% of real estate agents believe curb appeal is one of the primary ways to attract a buyer.

Keeping the lawn tidy, manicuring bushes, removing yard clutter, and ensuring exterior paint sparkles are things you'll want to do. Here are five additional ways to make your home’s exterior pop.

Install Gutter Covers

Gutter covers serve a practical purpose by ensuring gutters are clear of debris to prevent breakage or destruction caused by backed up water, but they can also provide an attractive exterior accent. Modern covers come in different designs and colors to add an attractive feature to your home. (Bonus: Many buyers might find the idea of low-maintenance gutters appealing!)

Seal the Driveway

Maintaining a driveway is one of those items many people forget to tick off on their to-do list. A dirty or cracked driveway might immediately bias a potential buyer, but a newly sealed and crisp-looking driveway can go a long way towards grabbing their attention.

Add ‘Green’ Highlights

Today’s consumers actively seek to go green. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, 68% of buyers seek environmentally-friendly homes (even if they don’t want to pay extra for them). Adding exterior improvements to your home can give it a “green” feel.

• Install solar lighting: These aren’t as elusive as they once were, you can buy solar lighting at your local big box store or warehouse to use along patio borders or integrated into your landscape.

• Add a sustainable garden: Gardens are always a nice touch and low-maintenance sustainable gardens are a plus. (Consider installing a barrel to collect rainwater to water your garden to further increase your home’s “green” appeal).

• Replace windows and doors: Adding attractive Energy Star certified windows and doors are appealing perks and, while costly, bring a strong ROI in resale.

Giving your home environmentally-conscious features and "feel" adds curb appeal and, depending on the improvements made, also enhances its value.

Add New Door Hardware

Buyers greeted at the door with a dingy outdated doorknob will have a different reaction than if met with a brand-new shiny one. Adding new front door hardware is a great way to bring a more inviting feel to your home as buyers arrive. Best of all, replacing it is an inexpensive and easy DIY fix.

Ditch Concrete Walkways

Traditional concrete walkways are considered retro. If yours are looking outdated, you can make appealing improvements by investing in stamped concrete, stone or reclaimed brick walkways to replace older ones.

According to Remodeling Magazine, nine of the top 10 home improvements to increase a home’s value are exterior upgrades. First impressions matter. If you can “wow” a buyer before they even step in the door, you’ve got a far better chance of receiving your asking price.