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Ways to Add Curb Appeal

The first step in achieving great curb appeal is to start with a clean house. Power washing the exterior is a great way to remove dirt, grime and moss that have accumulated. All of the windows should be clear and sparkling. If some are hard to reach with a normal ladder, consider hiring a pro to help. Get into the gutters and the roofline to remove all dirt, leaves and branches. (Photo courtesy of Angie's List member Gia A.) View Details

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Trim, prune and shape all trees, bushes and shrubs. Just as people need frequent haircuts, so does the greenery in your yard. Once everything is in order, plant some colorful flowers, add new mulch, shrubs and cover bare spots in the grass with seed or sod. (Photo courtesy of Angie's List member George S.) View Details

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A new coat of paint will brighten up any house. While you’re at it, consider changing up the color. Fresh paint can instantly update outdated siding or trim and make it look like new. If you live in a neighborhood with a homeowner’s association, be sure to clear color choices through officials first. (Photo courtesy of Angie's List member Peter B.) View Details

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A tiny front porch on a larger home looks out of place and lacks presence. Expanding the porch or steps can make the house seem more modern. Modify steep, narrow steps by making them wider in both length and width. Use modern materials, such as stamped concrete, granite, slate or tile for the front of the risers, which are noticeable from the street. (Photo courtesy of Angie's List member Benjamin C.) View Details

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The front porch often gets neglected, as people enter their homes through the garage, or a side or back door. Add some presence to your porch by using decorative light fixtures, large planters with colorful blooms, a nice rug and some chairs or a bench to create an inviting atmosphere. Inject a pop of color by painting the front door. You can put up a railing, or a low brick or stone wall to frame the porch and create a welcoming space. (Photo courtesy of Angie's List member Susan O.) View Details

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Architectural elements, such as columns, can help give your home its own unique curb appeal. Added shutters, molding and paint also can help to enhance the exterior. (Photo courtesy of Angie's List member Scott K.) View Details

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Resurfacing worn driveways is an instant upgrade to your home's exterior. Materials such as brick pavers or stones also can be used for driveway upgrades. (Photo courtesy of Angie's List member Jessica O.) View Details

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house exterior with shrubs and stone walkway

Creating symmetry in your home's landscape can bring a visual boost to its curb appeal. Experiment with placement of trees, shrubs, plants or flowers. (Photo courtesy of Angie's List member Stephanie K.)

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Everything from the mailbox and street numbers to the doorknob and the knocker affects the overall impression of a home from the curb. Pay attention to how interior window fixtures, such as curtains and blinds, look from the outside. Don’t forget to take a night view of your house. If it gets lost in the darkness, consider adding landscape lighting for a final pop. (Photo courtesy of Angie's List member Lars O.) View Details

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home exterior with neatly landscaped yard

home exterior with plants on front porch

home exterior with front porch and columns

Comments

Lauder Orleans 5 years ago

Subject: Tacky neighbor ruins historic ambiance

We live in an historic neighborhood in which most of the houses were built before 1890, but are not proctected by zoning codes. What do you do about a new comer who tears down the old cypress Victorian cottage and replaces it with a two story modern box of an edifice? He is an architect by the way and says it time for change. The house has been under renovation for over a year. He works on it when he has time or money.

Nancy Polikoff 5 years ago

Subject: Curb Appeal

Too bad the homes in the photos look like new construction that were professionally landscaped. How about examples for the rest of us who don't own brand new homes.

Bobbi 5 years ago

Subject: Curb Appeal

Even though the pictures are attractive, I think there are ways that some of them could improve their curb appeal for very little cost.

Marlena in San Antonio, TX 5 years ago

Subject: Thank you for First Impressions

I appreciate all the suggestions, but the First Impressions by Brad Morrison is a great article. I don't intend to sell my home, but I need tips on keeping it looking good for visitors and people passing by. These tips are great reminders that we often take for granted since we are use to overlooking things in our daily routines. Thank you to all the others who offered great tips.

Now, can you please help me? I have a problem that I recently noticed on the back of my home. The aluminum siding is peeling. The company that installed the aluminum siding went out of business. With every good wind, more paint peels and the flakes are on the ground. Do you have suggestions to stop it and who should I call to fix it at a reasonable price?

Michelle 5 years ago

Subject: Advice not just for sellers!

Doing some sprucing-up will not only help the sale of your own home, but boost property values in the neighborhood. If more people make their homes more presentable on your street, it'll give a better overall look to all the homes and give buyers an even rosier look on the neighborhood as a whole. That ends up benfiting you later even if your home is not on the market now. So this is good advice not just for sellers, but for everyone.

Cate 5 years ago

Subject: Curb Appeal

I bought a blower (a smaller one that I have attached an orange extension cord to) on sale at my local hardware store, and use it to blow a "clean and crisp" driveway and sidewalk to my front door - at least twice per week. This makes a great difference in overall yard appeal. Trees create waste on a daily basis...

Deborah N Lurie 5 years ago

Subject: Ouch, my grammatical ears!

There is no such thing as "change up" or "changing up". One can simply change something. Such language brings down the educational level of a message.

Millie 5 years ago

Subject: Curb Appeal

There's nothing much new here. I can look through any home & garden magazine and see this. To me, it looks like that's exactly what you've done. Where are the unique situations? Anyone can come up with this when one has a perfect, new house.

Brad Morrison 5 years ago

Subject: First Impressions and ez fixes on in/out home Curb Appeal

On a budget and need to repair/prepare and sell your home fast? Are you expecting the big boss over or having a family reunion? Try these tips:
(I was a RE appraiser, bought and sold many homes with and w/o Realtors, did many make-overs and remos, had mega-parties and learned from fantastic successes and blaring mistakes)
~ Follow Angie's exterior landscaping tips in this "10 ways...curb appeal" article. Also "cut-in" around all bed borders for extremely professional and low maintenance look. WORK the exterior house and yard 1st (front and sides especially).
~ Don't paint the whole house outside but spruce the front and side trim, porch, entry door (and screen/storm?) and shutters.
~ Cinch up sagging gutters, down spouts, soffets, trim etc. (Do these all around as this is a repair, not "make-up")
~ The front porch/entry/yard/driveway/etc. should be as sparse as possible save all awesome landscaping.
~ Don't let exterior curb appeal disappear the minute the front door is open. If you have trouble spots make them the last place you see or go. Just inside the entry door should be showroom condition then go to the room that looks the best next. Loose stuff goes behind doors, walls, fences etc.
~ Brighten the entry hall/foyer and dark rooms only with fresh coat of paint in the entry ways (and any dark rooms, especially dark paneling unless super high quality with good lighting. All fixtures everywhere need bright light bulbs...for this purpose, nix the energy savers in dark areas). If the entry opens to a stair way leading upstairs, be sure it is in "show condition."
~ Remove dried up, gag-ya, stick-ya-in-the throat rotten curtains and, if the windows aren't excellent, replace with inexpensive blinds. Otherwise, leave them naked like a new house. In any case, wash windows in and out. Do these specifically on the main entry floor.
~ Replace ratty carpet and vinyl with new inexpensive products in neutral colors. If they want to yank and replace it later, at least they don't have to delay a move in because it is so bad. Ditto on kitchen/bathroom counter tops if they are smaller as in old houses, and really in need (not a big investment at all). Do these specifically on the main entry floor.
~ If you can' get everything out get all extra stuff to the garage and/or unfinished part of your basement
~ A little furniture is preferred if possible. Realtors buy furniture to put in new houses for sale.
~ Put in wall outlet good smell-ums so house always smells good...but not over powering
~ Clean everything, especially inside window sills if they will be open. Wash all windows in and out.
~ Use WD40 or wax on anything that sticks or squeaks
~ Empty all but 1 or 2 Kit cabinets
~ Make sure window views are maximized or mitigated (open vs. shut blinds), stuff in viewing frame when looking out, etc.
This won't break the budget and all can be done in a couple days if you use youth organizations in your area who would be happy to do it for a donation. Support your local church.
That's it for now...may contribute more later (so far this professional advice is for free!!!)

Bal 5 years ago

Subject: Aguila

Homeowner and interested in new ideas to improve curb appeal.

Trudy Wright 5 years ago

Subject: Home exterior pictures

There are several shots I would like to "borrow" some ideas from, any chance I could get a copy of a couple of the photos?? Or is it possible for me to copy them without infringing on someone's else's rights?
Love this posting in general and appreciate getting it!! Thanks, a member in a small town, USA.

Katie Jacewicz 5 years ago

Senior Project Manager - Angie's List

Subject: Katie with Angie's List

Hi Trudy,

Please email me at articles (at) angieslist.com. Thanks!

bud in LA 5 years ago

Subject: 10 ways

what a waste of time - this is no list

Realtor - Margaret Barber 5 years ago

Subject: CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN.

CLEAN----Driveway, front porch, door, welcome mat, windows, outside and inside. Nothing turns off a buyer like someone else's trash and dirt.
Sparkling clean brings smiles and offers to buy!!!

Laurie Cargill 5 years ago

Subject: Curb Appeal Idea

As a home redesigner/stager, one of my favorite recommendations for improving curb appeal is to add exterior shutters to windows, assuming they are not already there. This improvement isn't limited to front windows; shutters add a lot of pizazz when the side of a house is visible and to the back of a house that is otherwise rather plain looking.

Farhad 5 years ago

Subject: Landscaping

You may also want to consider planting native plants in your front yard instead of the boring, high-maintenance grass lawn. Native plants are easy to care for and are eco friendly. They also attract native insects and native birds and can bring your yard to life.

John M Kesse 5 years ago

Subject: Handyman

I requested a handyman to come to my house to take some birds nests on my roof. Nobody had come. Can you call me to let me know why nobody show up?

Sharon Palko 4 years ago

Subject: removal of bird's nests

May I suggest that you wait a couple of months? There may still be babies in them:)

Katie Jacewicz 5 years ago

Senior Project Manager - Angie's List

Subject: Katie with Angie's List

Hi John,

Did you make a request through Angie's List or did you call a local handyman directly? You can give our customer service reps a call at 1-888-944-LIST if you need additional help or information. Thanks!

Linda M 5 years ago

Subject: Curb Appeal Idea

Simple things like...power wash the algae off the siding, pull weeds at curb and in flower beds, get rid of odds and ends strewn about garden (dead flowers in pots, empty planters) put in mulch and inexpensive colorful flowers. Some things are glaringly obvious but sellers don't seem to have a clue. Oh! and for heaven's sake PLEASE HIDE THE TRASH/RECYCLE CANS!!!

Julie Bishop 5 years ago

Subject: Curb appeal

That's awesome. Too funny!

T.W. 5 years ago

Subject: Reply to Linda's comment

You make such sense & I've often thought the same about front yards I have seen with "For Sale" signs.
I'd like to add large colorful plastic children's toys to your list though, at least while it's for sale, if no back yard is avaialable for them.
I do notice more and more though that sellers have figured this out as well as I see more and more attractive facades, yards & porches etc.
Emails like this & shows on HGTV etc., appear to be having a positive effect!
I for one am glad to see it!!

Mine is not For Sale but I will definitely look at it in the morning to be sure it looks at least presentable!!
Great ideas Linda!! Thanks!!

claire robertson 5 years ago

Subject: curb appeal

Get rid of flamingos and dwarves but buyers, remember that such things can be easily removed so don't be overly distracted by them!

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Ways to Add Curb Appeal

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