C.J. Braden • 3 Minute Read
How to Improve Curb Appeal With Exterior Updates
Updated 5/23
Originally published 12/20/23
Maintaining your home's exterior is essential to keep it looking inviting and attractive. A few simple outdoor home maintenance tasks can help increase your property value and give you that extra boost of curb appeal. Whether you're looking to sell your home or just want your house to look more presentable, consider tackling these five outdoor maintenance tasks.
A well designed landscaping plan
Trim Trees & Bushes
Overgrown bushes are an eyesore on any property, so keep them trimmed back regularly. If you have trees in your yard, be sure to trim away any dead branches or limbs that could pose a danger or become hazardous during storms or high winds. Keeping trees pruned will make them look nicer and prevent potential problems like disease infestations caused by pests hiding in the overgrown foliage.
Here’s our quick and easy inexpensive backyard makeover that we did before selling one of our houses. View below or via our YouTube channel @carolynjbraden:
Indoor/outdoor pool living room space
Repair & Refresh Your Deck
If you have a deck on your property, it's essential to inspect it for wear and tear at least once a year — especially if you live in an area with extreme weather conditions. During your home maintenance routine look for any signs of rotting wood or structural damage and repair it immediately before it worsens. Once everything has been taken care of, apply a fresh coat of stain or paint to give it a new lease of life and enhance its overall appearance in your yard.
Pressure washed pool area
Pressure Wash Your Exterior Surfaces
The dirt, grime, and debris that accumulates on the outside of homes over time can make them look dingy and uninviting. An easy way to get rid of those unsightly stains and restore the original color of the surfaces is by pressure washing all surfaces.
You can rent a pressure washer from hardware stores for relatively cheap — so there's no need to go out and buy one yourself if you don't plan on using it again anytime soon. Just ensure you follow the instructions carefully when operating the machine so as not to cause any damage.
Pink painted front door
Paint Your Front Door
Your front door is one of the first things visitors will notice about your property — so why not take this opportunity to spruce up its appearance? A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for making a house look more inviting — plus, depending on the colors you choose, it could even help with resale value down the line!
Just be sure to use appropriate paint for doors made out of metal or wood so that it lasts longer without chipping or fading away too quickly. You should also consider changing the locks as well. You can get beautiful high security door locks, for your doors. Not only will you protect your home but you will upgrade its look as well.
Professionally cleaned stone driveway
Fill In Cracks In Your Driveway Or Walkway
Nothing looks worse than a cracked or broken driveway or walkway — so it's essential to fill in any cracks or gaps as soon as you spot them. Doing this will help keep your property looking nice and ensure visitors don't trip over any hazardous spots on their way up to your door. You can use concrete filler for small holes, and if the damage is more serious, you should consider calling a professional to take care of it for you.
Modern lake house and deck space
Make updates to benefit your real estate value
As many real estate developers would mention, including Paul Ognibene, doing updates to your property can help improve its value. If you’re looking to make your real estate investment go further when it comes to your finances, then it’s definitely worth committing to as many updates and maintenance tasks as possible.
These five outdoor maintenance tasks are relatively simple but go a long way in terms of making your home look neat and inviting. So if you're looking to improve the appearance of your property, be sure to add these fixes to your list.
If you loved this article, we know you’ll love this one too: DIY Dog Wash Station
C.J. (Carolyn) Braden is a regular contributor and editor for Carolyn’s Blooming Creations. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.
This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links. All opinions and ideas expressed in this post, however, are based on my personal point of view.