9 Landscaping Ideas to Up Your Curb Appeal and Home Value (and Make the Neighbors Jealous)
What kind of first impression does your home make when potential buyers see it from the curb? Attractive landscaping entices buyers before they walk through your front door. If your home has curb appeal, you’ll minimize the time it sits on the market, improve its value, and sell it for more. Your home and landscaping should be clean to get people excited about what’s behind the front door. That’s where curb appeal landscaping comes in. Although “landscaping” usually brings to mind grass and plants, it also includes things like the facade of your house and the pathway leading to it.
Before we get into ways to make the front of your home look most attractive, it’s worth mentioning that today’s buyers want low-maintenance landscaping that’s effortlessly attractive. There are several reasons why home buyers avoid buying homes that require extensive maintenance; many families are dual-income households, and others travel often. So, focus on simple and easy landscaping ideas rather than crafting an elaborate front yard with high-maintenance plants and pathways.
Read on to learn our top nine recommendations for improving your home’s curb appeal. These nine low-maintenance landscaping ideas and exterior home improvements will help you succeed when it’s time to sell.
Simple ideas to enhance landscaping and curb appeal
1. Power wash your walkway and siding
Before we delve into landscaping, let’s talk about your home’s exterior. The easiest and least expensive way to make your home look newer is to clean it, making it an obvious step in prepping it for sale. The build-up of dirt and debris on your walkway or siding can deter buyers, but there’s a quick fix. Power washing is a standard solution for dirty walkways and siding.
It is possible to clean siding by yourself using a rented power washer, but professional help is recommended if you want to do the job correctly. Why? If you’re not careful, water can get under your house’s siding, remove caulk and sealants, or cause other issues.
2. Give it a fresh coat of paint
If your exterior paint has faded, a fresh coat can work wonders in making your home look well-maintained and move-in ready. The same is true if you’d like it to stand out from the rest of the houses on the block. Be careful when choosing paint colors, though. Be cautious when selecting an eye-catching hue; if your color is so bold or offbeat, it may scare buyers off. The colors you choose should be tasteful and have broad appeal.
If your siding is clean and in good condition, it might not make sense to paint your entire house. Consider painting your front door or window frames instead. Choose a vibrant color like red, yellow, or blue to draw buyers in and give your house character and enhance its curb appeal.
3. Repair or replace your pathway
If the pathway to your home poses safety hazards from uneven concrete or other issues concerning its age or wear, have it repaired or replaced. And even if it only has cosmetic problems such as cracks or discoloration, repairing it or replacing it with a new walkway can make your entire home look more inviting. Your polished landscaping works best with functional walkways.
4. Check the status of your roof and gutters
A roof or gutters that look battered and worn decrease the perceived value of your home. They can also pose risks of water damage. So, if your roof is old or in disrepair, you should get it fixed—especially if it shows its age. Adding a new roof or replacing your existing one before selling can be pricey and isn’t something that most people would recommend DIY. Nevertheless, poor roof conditions can significantly deter buyers because your roof’s health can affect your entire house.
Roofing is the perfect project for Curbio’s home improvement experts. We’ll get it done quickly and correctly before you list your home. Curbio provides pre-sale home repairs and renovations with a “pay-at-closing” model – so you can take on every home improvement necessary to quickly sell your property for top dollar. Learn how it works here.
5. Give your lawn some TLC
The state of your lawn will leave an immediate impression – for better or worse! After all, lawns take up a lot of real estate in the front of most homes. If your grass is dead, ten feet tall, or full of weeds, it may raise some flags for buyers who are left wondering if you’ve put the same effort into maintaining your house. It’s best to reseed your grass in the spring if possible, but you can also install healthy grass or, in some cases, artificial turf to give the front yard a lush and vibrant look.
Discuss the best landscaping ideas and action plan with your Realtor®, who will know how critical your lawn’s condition will be in making your home marketable and increasing its value.
6. Choose an attractive mix of easy-maintenance landscaping
Vibrant flowers and shrubs can complement your home’s facade, making it look warm, inviting, and full of life. As you choose your plants, remember to go with low-maintenance options that won’t require hours of upkeep for the new homeowners.
Drought-resistant and perennial plants are popular options for low-maintenance gardens. Choose a mix of low and medium-height flowers and plants that create a pleasing visual contrast for the most professional look.
7. Care for your plants
What about your existing bushes, trees, and other plants? They should always be well-manicured when your home goes on the market. You may need to trim shrubs to a uniform shape and size or cut off unruly branches. Always remove dead or diseased trees that could come up during your home inspection for the smoothest closing and best price.
8. Repave your driveway
Much like repairing walkways, repaving your driveway can greatly increase your home’s curb appeal. If your driveway is uneven, stained, or cracked from tree roots or other plants sprouting up through it, a replacement may be in order. Opt for a professional to repave your driveway to avoid unevenness, cracks, and mess.
9. Add complementary lighting to your landscaping
Last but not least, to boost the appeal of your home, use lighting to show off its best features and make it shine at night. Lights are great for nighttime safety and add to the digital curb appeal of your home, assuming you capture photos of the exterior at night with an excellent real estate photographer. Lighting the driveway, walkway, or even flower planters with lights gives almost every home a touch of magic and warmth.
Achieving better curb appeal and maximum value
These are just a few ways to maximize your profit when selling your home. Depending on the condition of your home and the comps in your neighborhood, your real estate agent can recommend upgrades that will enhance the landscaping, curb appeal, and overall value of your home.
Curbio’s specialty is maximizing profits for home sellers through smart home improvements! You can start the conversation about the proper repairs and renovations to sell your home faster and for top dollar by asking your real estate agent about Curbio’s pre-listing home improvement expertise and pay-at-closing model. Learn more about how Curbio works.