6 Easy Exterior Updates to Boost Curb Appeal on a Budget
LenaH April 2, 2021If you are one of those homeowners who keep postponing updates to their home’s exterior, stop doing so! Namely, there are at least 6 easy exterior updates that will beautify your home, increasing its curb appeal in the process.
When the time to sell comes, you will be able to place a significantly higher asking price on your Sydney property!
Revamping the front door
The most significant segment on the façade of your home is the front door. Its sheer size and noticeability mean that you cannot have paint peeling from the door. Repaint a wooden door or consider installing a metal one to boost safety (and eliminate draft).
Moreover, you should replace the house number if it’s worn out by the endless sun/rain cycles typical to the Australian West Coast. House numbers made from metal are trendy now, as a brass or aluminum house number will make your home stand out.
A winding path
When it comes to the front lawn, it should be well-maintained and watered regularly; after all, there is nothing worse than a dry patch of land in front of your residence. However, you should spruce up the pathways too.
Don’t go for the conventional straightforward design and try to build pathways that will wind a bit. Use (yellow) bricks, gravel, or concrete slabs as pavers to add to the appeal. Mind you, while footpaths can wind, the driveways should be straight or slightly curved, so it’s easy to park.
A new façade
Although a lawn can be spacious, the biggest “portion” of curb appeal is going to be the front façade of your home. A wall that is weather-beaten and mucky won’t be appealing to anyone, so make sure you appeal render and/or repaint the whole façade.
This shouldn’t be too hard as reliable cement house rendering in Sydney is easy to find. Professionals will render your home, so it’s as good as new and you will additionally benefit from improved insulation, lowering the utility bills in winter (and in summer, if you turn on the AC often).
The devil is in the details
Once you finish rendering the home, it’s time to turn your attention to seemingly insignificant details. These details include the aforementioned house number but also shutters and lighting fixtures.
Start by hanging new curtains from the windows upstairs, in the bathroom and the bedroom(s). A new layer of waterproof paint should do the trick for the former, while a vintage LED lamp over the front door will truly boost your home’s curb appeal at night.
Also, you might want to consider adorning the house with metal finishes to give it a more modern look. The mailbox can also be updated and perhaps relocated from the driveway and attached to the structure itself.
Make your home unique
If you live in a neighborhood where all the houses look pretty much the same, the real task is to make your residence stand out. Everything from a small bench to a garden gnome can help you create one-of-a-kind curb appeal.
However, don’t over customize your home, as it still needs to fit in with the décor of the rest of the houses on your street. Also, check if you need a permit for extensive work, as New South Wales does have such building regulations.
Bird’s-eye view
Finally, it’s time to spruce your home from above. The roof is the part of the house that homeowners usually neglect, as it cannot be entirely perceived from the ground. However, slated roofs are common in Australia and they do make a part of your home’s curb appeal.
First of all, the roof shouldn’t leak, i.e. there should be any missing or cracked shingles. The best way to inspect the roof isn’t from the outside but the outside. After a trip to the attic confirms everything is fine, it’s time to remove lichen and other grown that might be damaging the roof’s aesthetics.
Most of the updates listed above are easy to complete, as a roof inspection and repainting the front door cost next to nothing. Once you revamp the front façade, your property will gain both in value and appeal.
