Tips to Improve a Home's Curb Appeal

Houses that have high curb appeal will take less time to sell and command higher prices. The way in which your home appears from the street — well-maintained and attractively landscaped — may cut the time it takes to sell and add thousands to its value. However, which projects pump curb appeal up most? A little spit and polish will go a long way, and so will a dose of color. We put together five of our best tips to improve a homes curb appeal below.Wash the Home’s FaceBefore planting more azaleas, or scraping any paint, wash the grunge, mildew and dirt off of the outside of the property. REALTORS® say cleaning a home may add $10,000 - $15,000 to the sale’s price of some properties.Freshen Paint JobThe most typically provided curb appeal suggestion from real estate appraisers and pros includes giving the home’s exterior a good paint job. Buyers instantly will notice it, and appraisers are going to value it. Painting, of course, is a time-consuming and expensive facelift. To paint a home of 3000 square feet, figure on spending $1,500 - $3,000 on labor and $375 - $600 on paint.Regard your RoofA few tired roofs appear a lot better after removing 25 years of moss, dirt, algae and lichens. Do not attempt to clean the roofing on your own: contact an expert that has the right technique and tools to clean it without causing any damage. A roof of 2,000 square feet takes one day and $400 - $600 to professionally clean.Neaten your YardGreen your grass up with lawn water and food. Cover all bare spots with sod and seeds, mow regularly and eliminate crab grass.Add Color SplashEven a tiny pop of color pleases and attracts the eye of potential buyers. In the fall, plant a tulip border which will bloom within the spring. Dig a flowerbed by your mailbox and then plant pansies. Place an Adirondack chair or brightly colored bench on your front porch.