Front Yard Curb Appeal: 7 Ways to Boost Yours

When you think about your home’s property value, you probably think about the value of the house itself. While this is certainly the biggest factor in determining how much your property is worth, it’s not the only one.

Your landscaping matters, too. In fact, proper landscaping can add as much as 12.7 percent to your home’s value and the more attractive your curb appeal is, the more buyers will be ready to show an in your home.

Whether you’re thinking of selling your home now or just want to boost your home’s value, improving your front yard curb appeal is an absolute must. Here are a few tips to help.

1. Start Weeding and Pruning

Weeds and overgrowth in your yard can pop up almost overnight. This makes it hard to stay on top of them, but if you let that growth go unchecked, it will hurt your yard’s curb appeal immediately.

Overgrown and weed-filled yards make the entire exterior of your home look rundown and poorly maintained.

Be proactive. Grab a pair of gardening gloves and get to work.

Dig up weeds in your garden and flower beds by hand and spread a turf-safe weed killer to get rid of them for good. Avoid using surface sprays as it can scorch your grass and kill the more sensitive flowering plants that you want to keep.

If your shrubs and bushes haven’t gotten pruned in a few months, show them some love. Trim any dead limbs away and cut back any limbs that are shading plants that need more sun.

2. Clean Your Siding

The wind spreads dirt and dust across your yard and that grime often collects on your home’s siding. Over time, this can make your paint job look dull and can even hide damage to the siding itself.

The best thing you can do is clean each side of your home thoroughly. Check with your siding manufacturer for the best ways to clean your particular materials.

As a general rule, avoid pressure washing your siding. The high-pressure stream can damage your paint and increase the risk of cracks in the siding panels. Instead, use a garden hose with a spray head attachment and rinse the dirt away.

For more stubborn buildup, you may need to scrub the area by hand. If you’re not comfortable doing this yourself, hire a pro.

3. Wash Your Windows

Believe it or not, dirty windows do more than restrict the amount of natural light that makes it inside your home. They also make your home look dirtier than it really is.

Start from the top down. If you have a two-story house, you’ll want to invest in a few cleaning supplies. Grab a microfiber washing head, an attachable squeegee, and an extension pole from your local hardware store.

Add a tablespoon of dish detergent to a gallon of water and wash the window with the microfiber head. Then, use the squeegee to remove the water and dirt. Repeat the process for lower-level windows.

To clean the glass inside your home, use a microfiber cloth and your preferred glass cleaner. This will give you a streak-free shine on every pane.

4. Upgrade Your Doors

Your home’s doors can set the tone for your home’s exterior, but since they’re exposed to the elements, they will eventually need to get replaced.

Instead of choosing a door that’s identical to the one you have, upgrade. If you have a standard wooden front door, upgrade to a more energy-efficient steel or fiberglass option.

If you have a sliding glass door near the front of your property, replace it with a bifold door. These doors allow you to increase the amount of airflow your home gets while also elevating the look of your exterior.

5. Mulch Your Flowerbeds

No one wants to stare at dull dirt in a flowerbed. It’s boring, bland, and erodes away in heavy rain. Worse, it can make even carefully designed flowerbeds look underwhelming.

Spread a high-quality mulch throughout your garden. Mulch adds color and makes the beds look more dynamic, but it also helps keep your soil in better shape.

The weight of the mulch helps trap the soil and keeps it from eroding away. Mulch also traps moisture in the soil so you can reduce the frequency of your watering sessions.

6. Add Some Landscape Lighting

Even the most well-thought-out landscaping won’t look great if people can’t see it. The best way to improve visibility is to install landscape lighting on your property.

Think about the features you want to highlight, whether it’s a particular tree, shrub, or hardscaping element. Use this to guide your light placement. You may also want to add lighting around your walkways and exterior stairs.

Regardless of where you want to install lighting, make sure you have the system installed by an experienced electrician. Otherwise, you could end up with fire hazards in your yard.

7. Give It Some Color

Adding color to your landscaping is one of the best ways to attract attention and make your yard more appealing. You don’t even have to go to the expense of planting things yourself.

Instead, add a few potted plants to the mix. Arrange bright potted flowers on your front porch or by your door. Use accent pillows with your outdoor furniture to make things pop and repaint your front door if it looks a little drab.

These simple additions can transform the way your yard looks and feels. Even better, they’re incredibly affordable and require minimal time and effort to implement.

Start Improving Your Front Yard Curb Appeal

Your front yard is the first thing people notice about your home. Use these tips to improve your front yard curb appeal and see the difference it makes.

Even if you’re not planning on selling your home in the near future, you’ll be able to enjoy the way your yard looks for years to come.

Looking for a few more tips and tricks to help increase your home’s value? Check out our latest posts for more inspiration.

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