Additions to Improve your Home’s Exterior
They say a picture is worth thousand words, but when it comes to owning a home, the exterior says it all. This is why having good curb appeal is so important. Good curb appeal will dramatically improve your home’s appearance and its value. Any money you invest to improve your home’s exterior is returned upon sale. Here are some additions for improving the exterior of your home.
Most people agree that the front door is a good place to start. However, one of the most neglected exterior projects is the driveway. A dreary looking driveway can make the entire house look dull; however, adding some edging along the sides can dramatically improve the driveway’s appearance. This project is easy to do and it’s affordable. Modern materials are so easy to install that just about anyone can do it. You can find many styles of driveway edging at your local big-box home improvement store.
The mailbox is also an exterior improvement that is frequently overlooked. Most houses come with a plain pole in the ground with the mailbox attached to the top of the pole. This is adequate, but not very attractive. Decorating the pole to match the siding is one way to improve its appearance. Changing the metal pole to a nice wooden one is another idea. In fact, there are dozens of affordable ideas on how to make the mailbox look more attractive.
Adding some new landscaping and flowerbeds also goes a long way toward improving the home’s curb appeal. These kinds of additions can be both affordable and fun for the entire family. The project does not require any special tools. All that is needed is a bit of work and some creativity. In fact, nothing can improve your home’s curb appeal faster than a well landscaped yard.
Windows are often overlooked too. Making some new additions to the windows can improve curb appeal and help save you some money. Retractable awnings keep the heat out in the summer, but they allow the sun in during the winter when rolled up. They also make the windows look great.
Now it is time to move to the front door. Sometimes all that is needed is a fresh coat of paint or stain. However, adding a new front door comes with some added benefits. For instance, older doors are drafty. New doors will have extra insulation. They also provide a better seal to cut down on electricity use. Another benefit is they are lighter.
Doing some additions to improve your home’s exterior will be money well spent. In most cases there is a positive return on investment. Moreover, when you improve your home’s curb appeal you get some personal satisfaction as well. Personal satisfaction can be the best investment of all.
