4 Ways to Increase Your Home's Curb Appeal

First impressions are everything. From meeting someone new, to having an interview, your initial feeling is crucial. The same goes with buying a new home or even maintaining the home you already have. The inside of a home is important as well, of course, but people often forget about the exterior and what huge impact it can make on others. Especially with Spring just around the corner, it is time to roll up those sleeves and get to work. We compiled a list of 4 ways to increase your curb appeal by maintaining the exterior of your home.

Gutter Cleaning

If you live in an area with lots of trees, this one should be first on the list. Cleaning the gutter at least once a year will dramatically increase the look of your home. Even if you live in a dry area with no trees, the gutters can still collect dust and debris. The best way to go about cleaning your gutters is to start with a long sleeve t-shirt. Chances are, there will be lots of gunk in the gutters as well, so it is best to be fully covered. For the gunk, use a little plastic shovel to help remove it. Before taking out the leaves, place a tarp on the ground that way you do not have to just toss everything on your lawn. Doing that will only create more work for you. After everything is removed, spray the gutters down with a hose. This will help spot any holes in the gutter as well. If you don’t feel comfortable getting on a ladder and cleaning your gutters yourself, hire a gutter cleaning service to tackle the job for you.

Power Washing

Although this is basically a list of chores, this one will probably be the most fun and satisfying to accomplish. You will of course need a pressure washer to do this. It is imperative that you know how to use it before you do anything. Not using a pressure washer properly can result in damage to your home as well as possibly cause a serious injury to yourself – so please be safe! Just like gutter cleaning, it is recommended to wear a long sleeve shirt as well as protective eye wear and boots. Again, if you aren’t the DIY-type, you’ll be safer hiring someone to do the job for you. But if you are, make sure to test the washer on a small part of your home before going at it to make sure it doesn’t take off any paint if you have any. Seeing all the dirt melt off your walls will be satisfying enough to want to do your neighbor’s house.

Windows

Clean and sparkly windows are like a cherry on top when it comes to exterior home maintenance. It really makes all the difference. Ditch the Windex and paper towels, and go for a much more easy and environmentally friendly route. Fill a bucket with hot water and a dash of your favorite detergent solution, and if you don’t already have one, invest in a squeegee and sponge. First, wipe your window down with the detergent-soaked sponge, and use the squeegee to wipe it all away with no streaks. Have a clean, lint-free rag ready to wipe off the excess soap water from the squeegee, and repeat wiping until all the soap is gone. If there are any streaks or water spots, just take a rag to wipe it dry.

Landscape

After getting the gutters, power washing the walls of your house, and making your windows look squeaky clean, the last thing on our list will pull it all together is the landscape. If you have property with grass, it’s important to maintain it. Mow the lawn regularly and trim all your bushes. This will make your property look pretty, refreshing, and most importantly looked-after. If you don’t live in an area with a grassy lawn, chances are you have some type of wildlife to maintain. Pick up any pieces of garbage around your home, and take care of any unsightly weeds. If you have a garden, it is recommended that you check on it at least once a week, and water it accordingly based on what type of flowers or plants that are in it.

Whether you are trying to sell your home or just want to be a good homeowner by taking care of any home exterior needs, these 4 things on our list will definitely get you started in the right direction. The importance of property maintenance outside can often be overlooked, but working for a day or two can completely change the entire look of your home.

Be safe and happy cleaning!