CREATING CURB APPEAL
Thinking of selling your home? Make sure its exterior is neat and clean, and don’t forget the landscaping
If you’re thinking about upgrading your home’s curb appeal, a good place to start is by evaluating your property’s façade. Curb appeal, which refers to how attractive a home appears from the street view, is important for various reasons, and is especially critical when it comes time to list a home for sale.
The best way to boost your home’s exterior? Start with the driveway, walkway, and landscaping, experts say.
“The curb appeal of a home is really the first impression buyers get when they pull up to a home they will potentially purchase,” said Claudia Argento, real estate broker with Abbey and Olivier Agency.
How a home’s exterior is maintained often speaks volumes about how the rest of the property is cared for.
“It’s a big indicator, so having clean landscaping and a well maintained appearance is key,” said Lee Gregory, project manager with Groupe Paramount, a local landscaping specialist.
“Outdoor updates are generally very appreciated by potential buyers,” Argento said.
“In particular, an updated driveway, walkway and a garden refresh are a great way to invest in your home.”
In order to bring your home up to contemporary trends, most buyers today are looking for clean lines, formal shapes, and monochromatic colours.
“Those are the trends, but there have also been some beautiful exceptions to the rule, so it’s OK to think outside of the box, too,” Gregory said.
“Tidy planting, which includes simple hedging rather than the traditional English garden of the past, is usually a nice complement to the contemporary look.”
Following those guidelines will help create mass appeal.
“Clean lines and simplicity are timeless and are definitely the way to go to appeal to the most people possible when it’s time to sell,” Argento said.
In terms of materials, homeowners are becoming increasingly discerning and demanding of quality, a trend that has been observed in many different aspects of home design in recent years.
“Clients have been insisting on finer materials which often include natural stone walkways and retaining walls,” Gregory said. “St-Marc limestone and Royal limestones are light grey in tone and are tremendously popular for their fine finishes, durability and colour.”
In redoing major exterior features, homeowners often feel bound by the existing design of their property, but it’s important to know that there’s no need to stick to existing orientations when doing a remodel.
“Often, when redesigning a front yard with a client and landscape architect, the client is so accustomed to the existing shapes, elevations, and general configuration that it can be difficult for them to imagine it any differently,” Gregory said. “That’s why using a trained professional and starting with a plan to scale should be the first step in all cases in order to maximize the possibilities for your home.”
What’s more, changing technologies have opened the door to previously unthinkable features, such as heated drive and walkways.
“For dangerously steep or narrow driveways, some clients opt for heated driveways which, just like the way a bathroom floor is heated, have a heating element embedded in the subgrade of the drive and walkway,” Gregory said.
“It’s quite the luxury and comes with a relatively significant cost upgrade, but it does ease the homeowner’s winter months — and for many people it’s a matter of safety, not to mention convenience. Imagine never shovelling again at all? Pretty nice thought.”
Upgraded features aside, when it comes to budgeting there’s no one size fits all, but if you’re hoping to update your driveway and walkway you’re likely looking at a minimum of around $10,000.
“Even with a fairly simple budget, a home could undergo quite a substantial transformation,” Gregory said, “which can help homeowners get the most out of their properties.
“And if they’re planning to sell, they can expect a nice return on their investment by planning properly.”