4 Curb Appeal Improvement Decisions That Pay Off

Improving your home’s curb appeal is a great way to boost your property’s value — it can add 5 – 10% in some cases — as well as simply make arriving home more pleasant. The front of your property sets the tone for the rest of the home, after all.

There’s no shortage of curb enhancement decisions to make, but it’s important to keep in mind that not all improvements are created equal. Some can look and feel great on day one, but quickly show their age, and at that point, you’ll have to go through the whole curb appeal improvement process again.

Others can pay off again and again. In this post, we’re going to focus on the latter, outlining the improvements that will be most likely to boost your home’s value and your enjoyment of your home. 

Go For Low Maintenance

Homeowners want the front of their properties to look good, but it’s worth keeping in mind that most front-of-house improvements are not hands-off once they’re in place. You’ll need to do some work to keep things in tip-top condition.

How much work, however, can vary widely. If you’re looking to keep time and sanity on your side, then it’ll be best to focus on simplicity. Native plants can look great and require significantly less work than high-maintenance plants. 

Invest in Quality Materials

Using low-quality materials can be deceptive; they can look great on day one, but it won’t be long before they’re showing signs of wear and tear. After all, they’ll be subject to the elements day in, day out, and if they’re not durable or well-made, then you’ll be having to replace them a lot sooner than you would expect or like. For your railings and fencing, it’s best to work with a metal fabrication company that offers aluminum or stainless steel products, which are much more robust than PVC or other off-the-shelf options, which tend to age extremely quickly. Natural stone and quality pavers are also recommended for homeowners wishing the best for the front of their homes. 

Focus On the Entryway 

The entryway gets the most attention, even in the best-designed front of homes. Working to make it as inviting and welcoming as possible really can make a big difference to the appearance and tone of the property, and what’s more, it’s not an improvement that requires significant investment. Even painting the front door with quality paint and updating the hardware — brushed nickel and aged bronze work particularly well — can have a big impact, both now and in the future. 

Prioritize Classic Designs 

Finally, if there’s one piece of advice to take from this blog, it’s to be careful about following trends. There’s no shortage of curb appeal trends to choose from, but while they might look great today, there’s no guarantee that they’ll look quite as good a year or so down the line. That might be fine if you love the concept, but if you’re planning on selling soon, then thinking twice is essential for avoiding alienating potential buyers.