There’s a saying in real estate that “curb appeal is king.” And it applies whether you are gearing up to sell your Northern VA home or are remodeling and updating it to adapt to your family’s changing needs. Maintaining an attractive house and lawn has a wealth of benefits. Improving your home’s exterior may not be as exciting as putting in a more modern kitchen, but in many ways it’s just as important. A neatly manicured landscape, well-maintained shrubbery, and clean exterior show your neighborhood pride.

Curb Appeal Reflects Who You Are

When the exterior of your home is attractive to passersby, not only does it reflect well on you, but it also says a lot about the community you live in. Curb appeal is also an essential part of making your Northern VA house feel like a home. But curb appeal is not something that happens automatically, nor by planting a few shrubs and changing the house color. It takes planning, time and effort to create a home that lifts your spirits and makes a great first impression. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Take a Fresh Look

Look at your home as though you were looking at a neighbor’s. Are there overgrown bushes, faded paint areas, a loose or missing shutter, tired-looking mulch? Landscapers recommend your yard have a continuous and cohesive flow. You can accomplish this by using only a few different types of plants and then adding in some accent pieces to add color. A few strategically placed taller plants, along with subtle decorations or solar-powered lighting fixtures can create the same impression. Finally, make sure all the beds are freshly mulched, neatly edged and free of weeds.

Spruce Up the Exterior

Make your home shine by brightening up its exterior:

• For a quick and easy fix that has a big impact, add eye-catching house numbers. From hand-painted tiles to aged metal, there’s a material that will perfectly complement your home’s architectural style.
• Give the front door a fresh coat of paint – choose a color that really “pops” from the rest of the house.
• Nearly every designer recommends a “touch of red” when decorating. Try painting a planter or your mailbox in a beautiful shade of this vibrant color.

Ongoing Maintenance

The beauty of newly replaced windows or an upgraded porch is more than skin deep. Attention to your home’s upkeep all year long is important in maintaining your property and ensuring adequate protection from the elements. Take a look at the roof, keep gutters debris free, and check the siding or paint. Updated trim, new shutters, or new paint can make all the difference in your home’s appearance. Another area that is often overlooked is the driveway and garage door. If there are cracks or other noticeable flaws, fixing them will dramatically increase curb appeal. Installing a border along the driveway gives it a crisp, elegant look. Try using bricks, pavers, or stones to make a boring asphalt slab come to life. If your garage door has seen better days, installing a new one with interesting architectural details can also improve the way your home looks.

Learn More

Improving your Northern VA home’s curb appeal certainly adds value, but more importantly it makes your home a more enjoyable place to live. Schedule a conversation with us today to learn more about incorporating curb appeal into your next remodeling project.
We also invite you to download our ebook covering one of our whole house remodel case studies. The guide lays out the solutions we brought and the special challenges we overcame while working on this beautiful renovation.