Ways to boost your home’s kerb appeal
From the little touches to the big projects, here’s how to make a great first impression on potential buyers, guests and passers-by by boosting your home’s appearance
What does the exterior of your home say about you? If it’s not positive, then it’s time to sort it with a few exterior adjustments that will be the envy of your neighbours.
When you first meet someone, you have just seven seconds to make a good first impression – when it comes to the outside of your home, people will start making judgments before they even step foot inside.
From overgrown gardens to peeling paintwork, little things can all add up to make a good or bad impression of your home.
In fact, according to HomeOwners Alliance, 68% of homeowners said that what a house looks like from the street was important when choosing their home. Paula Higgins, chief executive of the HomeOwners Alliance, said: “Kerb appeal creates a lasting first impression. Most buyers make up their minds in the first few minutes of arriving at a property.”
This can effect the value of your home, too. For example, research by Dulux Weathershield in 2017 showed that nearly a third of Brits would pay 25% more for a freshly painted home.
So how can you boost the kerb appeal of your home? Here are just a few areas where some effort could lead to a big transformation:
WORK ON YOUR WINDOWS
The HomeOwners Alliance research also revealed that, when buying their homes, one of the most important kerb appeal features for those surveyed was well-maintained windows (rated important by 71% of homeowners).
How much work you need to do on your windows will likely depend on a few factors, an important one being how old they are. If they’re relatively new then a quick facelift by cleaning and freshening up the paint work could work wonders.
If your windows are getting on a bit, they may need replaced. It’s more costly but, as well as having aesthetic benefits, upgrading your windows could also help the energy efficiency of your home.
BE CREATIVE WITH CONSERVATORIES
Dreaming of a little more space? A conservatory could be the answer. Estimates suggest it could also add up to 15% to the value of your home.
How much the value could increase depends on a variety of factors, like the quality of the conservatory, your property’s location and how much it’ll cost you to complete the build. So do some research first to figure out if it’s worth it for you.
If you already have a conservatory why not show it a little love? New blinds or dressings, and even a good clean, will keep it looking fresh and well cared for.
GIVE A WARM WELCOME
Think about what people see when they first walk up to your house – are there any small improvements that could be made?
Repainting all woodwork, upgrading your front door, installing new porch lights, weeding your path and driveway, adding colourful plant pots, cutting the grass – there are lots of ways to refresh your home’s exterior. You can easily make some of these subtle but impactful changes yourself, if you’re on a tight budget.
DON’T FORGET TO LOOK UP
We don’t really have to look at our roof much day to day, and yet it plays a vital role in keeping our homes safe and watertight. Plus, if something does go wrong with it, then fixes or repairs can prove costly!
Maybe that’s why it also turned up during the HomeOwners Alliance research, with 68% considering it important for a roof to appear in good condition with no missing tiles.
Upgrading old roofs or having a professional roofer check it for any potential issues are great ways of keeping your roof in tip-top condition.
Whatever your budget, there are lots of ways, big and small, to boost the kerb appeal of your home and make a great first impression on potential buyers, guests or passers-by. If we’ve inspired you at all, then have fun making the outside of your house the best it can be.