curb appeal

It’s spring.  The time of year where the snow has melted and all the garbage underneath is now exposed.

It’s time to get to work.

Curb appeal is important not just for selling a house but for all the people who walk their dog.  For the love of everything that is good and holy please take a second look at the outside of your home. Do it for all those people who go past your house daily being pulled by a dog.  Do it for your neighborhood. Do it to keep up with the Jones. Do it to disguise the fact that your house is a mess inside. And, for Pete’s Sake, do it especially if your house is up for sale.

Research has shown that about 80 percent of all prospective buyers know if a home is right for them within six seconds of stepping inside.  Ok, so even if your house is not up for sale you still only have one chance to make a first impression and the same can be said for your home.

I want to help you.  As a person who is out there walking a dog–I need to help you.

Here are my top tips:

1. I’m all for originality but your house really should blend with the neighborhood.

2.  Front Door Color.  Easy way to add some oomph and originality without doing #1 (above).

 

 

Front Door Paint is an app that lets you take a picture of your door and then see what it would look like in different colors.

Also check out Kylie M. Interiors–she has a great blog post about which front door colors are best suited for red brick, grey siding, stone, etc…

3. Planters. Bigger is better. Small and teensy usually look busy and lost. If your porch can fit them a matching large pair is the gold standard.

4. Shutters.  To keep this simple stick with black or something neutral/dark with a contrasting front door (See #2). If you have a storm door try to make it blend in with your door color or eliminate it.

Hello Newmans has a blog post about how they made their own shutters.  You can find it here.

5.  Landscaping. You need it. Curving beds are more interesting to the eye than straight.  Bushes—you need them under your windows. Include big things where appropriate. Most of the time, people see your house — and judge its curb appeal — quickly, either on a walk or drive by. So large shapes and masses that are attractive from a distance should be a part of a landscape with curb appeal.  There’s nothing worse than a front yard with a whole bunch of little.

Limit the color palette for more impact.

6. Your Attached Garage.  The garage door is NOT suppose to be a focal point.  It is suppose to blend in with your home.  In the 1950’s owning a car was a status symbol so architects built houses with OBVIOUS garages. This is 2015, unless, you live in my neighborhood where a garage is unheard of, and therefore coveted, we don’t care about your garage. The door should be subtle, not conspicuous, and aesthetically enhance your home.

7. Details matter.  A tasteful wreath, nice hardware on your door, and any item that lend interest go a long way.