Ways to Increase the Value of Your Home with Exterior Upgrades

Author: Daniel McFerrin

Sooner or later, there comes a time in every homeowner’s life when renovating their house becomes necessary. First and foremost, it’s the place where we spend most of our free time, so it should be a place that we enjoy spending time in. Other than this, the importance of “curb appeal” should not be under-estimated, especially when it comes to increasing your home’s value.

If you’re planning to renovate your home, don’t forget about the exterior. Keeping the outside looking pristine will increase the visual appeal of your house and, in case you ever decide to sell it, raise its value. There are many ways to go about this, including managing the landscaping, updating the exterior paint color, or adding new lights. However, if you’re not quite sure about something, you can always try some renderings first.

With that being said, read the article below to learn more about how you can upgrade your house’s exterior. Read on as we explain how to “wow” every passerby and boost your home’s value.

Polish Off the Landscaping

Well-maintained landscaping can have a significant impact on the appeal of your home. It can make your property stand out and look more beautiful, as well as bring you a sense of peace and contentment. However, it’s also a fact that many people don’t pay enough attention to their landscaping. If you want to prevent any potential issues in the future, now is the best time to clear out your yard of all the old and unnecessary shrubs, flowers, trees, and other plants.

If you want to take this task on yourself, here are some steps you can follow:

• Mow the lawn, trim the hedges, and get rid of fallen leaves and branches,
• Cut down any dead trees or shrubs,
• Prune any flowers or bushes that are in need of some TLC.

For most people, this is something that should be done on a regular basis – at least once every season. But if you haven’t had that much time on your hands or it’s simply something you’ve been avoiding, try to take care of your landscaping and your house will immediately look better.

Update Your Exterior Paint Color

After clearing out your yard of all the overgrown vegetation, you can move on to one of the most essential parts of renovating your house’s exterior – painting it. Most real estate agents advise homeowners who are considering selling their home to paint their house’s exterior, as this will significantly increase its resale value. And even if you’re not looking for an opportunity to sell, it still should be worth it to give your faded walls a fresh coat of paint. Before you open the paint can, though, you might want to use a pressure washer to clean the walls first.

You should keep in mind some things when choosing the color for your home’s exterior – the most crucial being the exposure to sunlight. Ideally, you should opt for a shade that has undertones of white and yellow, as this will make your house appear brighter during the day and warmer at night. Also, try to stick to lighter shades rather than darker ones, as it will simply look cozier and inviting. Choosing a lighter shade like gray, beige, or taupe is also a great idea, as those colors remain trendy year after year.

Add a Porch

Adding a porch to your house is not only a great way to leave a lasting impression on your guests, but it can also get you some additional space for entertaining. Moreover, it will make your home look far more inviting and welcoming. It is also a great option if you want to bring the outside in without making a drastic change.

When designing a porch, think about how you want to use it in the long run. You can go with a simple, no-frills approach, or you can add a little style to it. Keep in mind that a porch is something you might want to spend a little extra money on, as you should invest in quality, durable wood that can withstand any weather conditions and won’t break or rot after a year of use. If you want to use it as a space for entertaining, consider adding a pergola or an awning for protection from the sun or rain.

Install New Lights

Adding new lights to your exterior can be a great way to improve the value of your home and give it a completely new look. If you’ve noticed that certain areas around the exterior of your house are poorly lit, consider adding some additional light fixtures. In particular, if you have a backyard where you like to spend time relaxing at night, choosing the right outdoor lights should be a priority.

These can be placed around the exterior of your house or in the garden to give it a more attractive look. You can install dimmable lights on the walls, focusing on the area around your entrance doors and in front of the house. If you want to make your landscaping pop, you can also get some solar lamps and strategically place them in a line that follows the natural shape of the bushes and flowerbeds. Rather than opting for a cold, white light, consider choosing warm yellow bulbs.

The Bottom Line

When it comes to home renovations, it is always important to ensure you are making the right choices. Not only will this help with the resale value of your house, but it will also transform it into a much more attractive place to live. Whether you want to add new lights, install a porch, upgrade your front door, or change the paint on your exterior walls – doing so is easy as long as you’re prepared. Take your time and plan things out accordingly and soon your house will be the best looking one in the whole neighborhood.