Five Ways to Add Kerb Appeal to Your Home

With so many properties on the market, and online listings making it easier for prospective buyers to drive by your home to get a look at it whenever it’s convenient for them, first impressions have never been so important. 

The entry to your home should look clean, secure and welcoming. Make sure that your address numbers are clearly displayed (also important for those driving by to take a look at your home in the evening), and think about upgrading them to a more modern design.

Danielle Hegedus from Modernize says according to the National Association of Realtors, 63% of home buyers now start their searches this way, so your home’s exterior needs to look great all the time. 

She says try to put yourself in the shoes of a potential buyer. Stand on the street in front of your home and assess its pros and cons. Does your landscaping look great? Are the gutters and downspouts rusted or hanging loosely? Does the entryway to your house look bright and welcoming? If the exterior of your home isn’t up to par, buyers may assume that the inside isn’t either. Danielle says properties with strong kerb appeal command higher prices and take less time to sell. 

You don’t have to give your home a complete facelift. Simple maintenance and beautifying tasks can make a huge impact and enhance your enjoyment of your home while you live there. 

Danielle shares five simple ways to increase your home’s kerb appeal. 

1. Dress up your front door 

Whether you like a simple fountain or a waterfall without a pond, adding a water feature to your home can dress up your landscaping, while concealing traffic noise.

The entry to your home should look clean, secure and welcoming. Make sure that your address numbers are clearly displayed (also important for those driving by to take a look at your home in the evening), and think about upgrading them to a more modern design. 

Consider updating your light fixtures, mailbox, and the hardware on doors should match to create a unified look. 

Replace your front door if needed. If a new door is outside of your budget, be sure to give your existing door a fresh coat of paint. 

2. Add a water feature 

Whether you like a simple fountain or a waterfall without a pond, adding a water feature to your home can dress up your landscaping, while concealing traffic noise. 

Showcase your deck, patio or veranda by making use of light, comfortable furniture that helps buyers envision themselves enjoying a cup of coffee and the morning paper outside, or relaxing with a fruit juice after some intensive gardening.

Danielle says flowing water will also attract wildlife like frogs and birds, as well as butterflies and other helpful pollinators that will help your plant life thrive. She says water features also help foster a serene, peaceful atmosphere. 

3. Illuminate your outdoor space 

Outdoor lighting is worth the investment. It makes your home more secure, as there are less dark spaces for would-be thieves to conceal themselves. 

These will also keep your family, guests and potential home buyers safe as they navigate their way from your driveway to your front door in the evenings. Outdoor lighting can also showcase beautiful walkways and landscaping, and make your home appear warm and cheerful, she says. 

4. Create space to linger 

Decks, patios and verandas are big drawcards for home buyers, as they create additional living space. Showcase these spaces with light, comfortable furniture that helps buyers envision themselves enjoying a cup of coffee and the morning paper outside, or relaxing with a fruit juice after some intensive gardening. 

Investing in landscaping will not only grab the attention of prospective buyers, it could also increase your overall home value.

Danielle says if you have a wooden deck, make sure that it is freshly painted and well-sealed to prevent painful splinters. 

5. Explore xeriscaping 

Xeriscaping is popular in landscaping right now. Essentially, it involves using sustainable, natural materials like stone, mulch, bamboo, gravel, etc. to develop your outdoor space and choosing plants that are native to the area and require little-to-no additional watering. 

Many home buyers are interested in xeriscaping, as it can dramatically decrease their landscaping costs and maintenance time. Investing in landscaping will not only grab the attention of prospective buyers, it could also increase your overall home value, she says.