5 Ways to Improve Curb Appeal and Raise Resale Value
Curb appeal is the phrase employed in real estate to describe a potential homebuyer’s first impression of your property. It usually entails the exterior view only, which includes siding, doors, windows, landscaping, driveway, and other elements visible from the street.
Great curb appeal has been known to elevate a property’s value significantly, by even as much as tens of thousands of dollars. On the flip side, poor curb appeal can keep your home from selling, no matter how great it looks on the inside.
Psychology tells us that we make up our mind about many things within the first 15 seconds of viewing them. In 15 seconds, a potential homebuyer only has time to see the outside, and that first impression can be very difficult to overcome.
So it’s wise always to be on the lookout for improvements you could make to your home. Here are some ideas from the pros.
1. Get a New Front Door
What’s the focal point of every home? The front door. If it’s as dated as the rest of the home, that will show.
You can easily modernize this small portion of your house to give it an entirely new appearance. Redoing your front door can render as much as 97 percent return on investment.
The first option would be to get a new front door altogether. Many new, beautiful, and modern styles are available to choose from, including solid wood or vinyl, windowed or solid, and arched or square.
If your door is in great shape and you don’t have the money for a new one right now, simply add a coat of paint. Make sure the color you choose matches the rest of the structure, and perhaps add a new color to the trim and shutters to tie everything together.
2. Put on a New Roof
One of the last things current homeowners think about when they’re improving curb appeal is the roof. It’s not something you would notice when you leave the house, but it’s pretty obvious from the road, so it will be one of the first things potential homebuyers see when they pull up.
Give your roof a good inspection before you put your home on sale. If the roof looks great and functions properly (no leaks, good insulation, etc.), keep it. If not, lay out the funds for a new one.
A new roof can cost anywhere from $6,000 to $10,000, so obviously it’s not a cheap investment. But a brand-new roof can last as long as 30 years, which is a very attractive warranty for new homebuyers. You can readily raise your asking price with this addition.
3. Redo the Siding
If your home has old siding, or it was never updated to James Hardie Siding, you should think about doing that now. James Hardie is a fiber-cement siding that offers some unique and highly beneficial elements, particularly when it comes to raising your property value.
Hardie siding has been rated the number-one siding choice in the U.S. for several years running, and it’s partly for that reason. This brand gives your home the look of wood siding without the negative effects such as warping and termites. Fiber-cement siding is durable, weather- and fire-resistant, impervious to animals, and guaranteed to last at least 30 years under an excellent warranty.
One of the best features of James Hardie siding, with regard to curb appeal, is the ColorPlus technology, which means your choice of one of hundreds of colors is baked onto the siding so it’s guaranteed to last. The fade quality of this product is 30 percent better than any other siding on the market.
That’s one of the reasons James Hardie siding has been named the number-one return on investment for home improvements. You can get as much as 87 percent of your investment back upon resale of the house, an unparalleled amount.
4. Install New Windows
Windows might be a surprising expense in a residence, but they’re necessary after a certain number of years. They have an impact on various functions of the home, particularly the efficiency.
As the years pass, seals break and insulation will begin to deteriorate around your windows, which drives up the energy bills. A more efficient utility bill is something almost any homebuyer would be happy to pay extra to get.
It may require as much as $10,000 to replace the windows in an average-sized home, but you can get most of that back between tax credits and the return on investment. Surveys show that homeowners who install new windows see as much as 85 percent back upon resale.
You can also look for ways to spruce up your windows, whether new or old. You might add planters or paint the trim around the windows to make the premises look more modern or homey. Outdoor shutters can also increase the curb appeal and real value of your home.
5. Hire a Landscaper
DIY landscaping is great for saving money right away, but a professional landscaper will save you a lot more in the long run. You can handle the maintenance afterward and cut costs that way, but it’s wiser to hand over the initial design to the professionals.
Research from HouseLogic says that great landscaping tends to show a high return on investment. It can raise your home’s property value by six to seven percent. This means if you’re selling a home for $200,000, you could raise your property value by $14,000 with just a few changes to the exterior quality and appearance.
Even if your house is older and lacks some of the modern touches of other homes, the landscaping will make it look newer and more appealing to homebuyers.
Improve Your Curb Appeal with Siding Pro in Colorado Springs
We are a leader in James Hardie siding installation in Colorado Springs and would be more than happy to help you improve your curb appeal and property values. We’re passionate about quality and exercise a keen attention to detail.
We’ll keep you constantly updated on the project, and you can count on our customer service. We have great respect for your home, time, and money, and want to make sure you get the very best out of the experience.
For more information about who we are and what we offer, fill out our contact form or call today at (719) 433-0300.
