Category: Curb Appeal

Cost-Effective Curb Appeal: Landscaping to Raise the Resale Value of Your Home

11/27/2014

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Window boxes in November, Charleston, SC

Looking to sell your home and maximize your profits? First, you need to raise the resale value, especially with cost-effective curb appeal. There are many ways to do so. Landscaping is said to have a 100 to 200 percent value of recovery at a sale. Other popular methods to raise resale value, such as kitchen and bath remodels, have smaller recovery rates. Some might argue that beautiful landscaping is costly, especially when going for curb appeal. Fortunately, there are cost-effective ways to get that desired curb appeal.

Patching up the Lawn

Maintaining a nice lawn for curb appeal is often thought to be expensive, but there are ways around that. For instance, when you've got dry patches, instead of spending a ton of time and money on products to re-grow that patch, consider purchasing a square of grass from your local garden center or home improvement warehouse. This way, the grass already looks nice and all you have to do at that point is insert it into your lawn and maintain it like the other areas. Grass squares are generally inexpensive. A nice, green lawn is great curb appeal.

Blooming Flowers

Colorful flowers that go with the season add curb appeal by brightening up or drawing attention to the outside of a house. These flowers can be displayed in pots, a flower bed or a combination of both. Annuals often are very cost-effective, averaging under a couple dollars for six or more. These can be found at local garden centers, home improvement warehouses and big name retailers.

Window Boxes

Falling in line with the cost-effective flower idea, window boxes add great curb appeal. They are fairly inexpensive to make or buy, and planting colorful annuals inside them can be beautiful. This makes for a very simple and cost-effective curb appeal project.

Potted Plants

Potted plants are a great way to add cost-effective curb appeal to your landscaping or walkway. When dispersed around the landscaping and other areas, potted plants can make the outside of a home very appealing and inviting. Plain clay pots are generally the most cost-effective. To spruce them up, they can be painted with inexpensive outdoor spray paint or ceramic paint. Designs or plain colors can both work well, depending on your desired look.

Pedestals

A few strategically placed pedestals can also add cost-effective curb appeal to the landscaping of your home. These can be placed in the lawn, along the walkway or even at the front door. To add even more curb appeal, place a potted plant atop each pedestal.

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Easy Ways to Add Curb Appeal to Your Front Stairs and Landing

11/16/2014

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Adding Curb Appeal is Fairly Simple

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Adding curb appeal to your home doesn't have to be hard. It can actually be quite fun. Whether you're dressing it up for a showing, just want your home to look the way it makes you feel, or just want to show off to your friends and neighbors, there are many things you can do to add curb appeal to your front steps and landing.

Why Should I Worry About Curb Appeal?

Curb appeal is important to a home for a variety of reasons. Your home should feel inviting to you. It should also be something you are proud of and should show your personality. Adding curb appeal could help you feel that before you even step foot in your door.

If you are selling your home, curb appeal can help make sale. If a home is not attractive on the outside, buyers instantly get a bad impression before stepping foot in the door and may expect (and look for) the worst. Another reason for curb appeal is that you don't want your home to stand out as the eyesore of the neighborhood.

Using Potted Trees Appropriately

One simple way to add some curb appeal to your front steps and landing areas is to use potted trees. Potted trees can make attractive scenery and there are many styles to choose from. Try to choose trees that will do well in your climate, as well as accent the area. For instance, you don't want to put a tall palm tree in the middle of a small walkway in the dead of winter.

Walkway Gardens For More Style

Gardens can be created just about anywhere. A walkway garden is another way to create curb appeal. This can be done right into the ground. However, if there is already cement or stone in place that you'd rather not dig up, you may want to take another approach by using potted plants and other scenery along the border of the walkway.

A raised bed garden also works great as a walkway garden. The container for one of these can be created with wood, stone, brick, or other materials. You can purchase these and other necessary materials, as well as the plants at the local home improvement center. Flowers and shrubbery both work well for raised bed gardens that will be along a walkway.

The garden can be centered or created along the sides of the walkway, leading up to the landing. Placement should depend upon your individual taste, as well as your exterior layout and available space.

Accenting Your Landing

Decorative planters are another great way to accent your stairs and landing. They come in many sizes and a variety of plant choices can be used to match your scenery and effectively draw positive attention to your home. Garden centers and home improvement warehouses generally have a big selection of planters, as well as plants and flowers.

Choosing containers with nontraditional shapes and placing them along the stairs is one way to add curb appeal with decorative planters. Another way could be to plant some flowers in a fountain or other non-traditional item that can be used as a planter.

Decorative pedestals can also create curb appeal. Placing them at the landing of the stairs can create an elegant look, depending upon the layout of your home. Try painting the pedestals with textured or marbleized paints. Go for colors that blend in with the look of your home, as well as the outdoor scenery.

Making a Splash With Water Features

Another great way to add curb appeal is by using water features. Above, there was an example of using a fountain as a planter. That's one idea. Another could be to create a tropical or forest scene inside a water feature.

Water is calming and soothing and can make you and your guests feel welcome before even setting foot inside. Set up this water feature on your landing, being sure to still leave room for accessing the stairs and the home. If your landing is small, water features can be created on walls as well.

There are many ways to add curb appeal. It's all about adding accents to your existing features. Everyone has their own individual taste and style. No matter which options you choose, be sure it not only makes your home look attractive, but makes you feel at home as well. At the end of the day, it is still your home and the main curb appeal should be catered to your own preferences.

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Cost-Effective Curb Appeal: Landscaping to Raise the Resale Value of Your Home

Easy Ways to Add Curb Appeal to Your Front Stairs and Landing

Adding Curb Appeal is Fairly Simple

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