Improve the Curb Appeal of Your Home with these Simple Projects

Posted by Matt Erdman of Mays & Associates

Now that spring is here, you may be looking for some do-it-yourself projects that will beautify your home and increase its value. This blog provides some ideas for home upgrades you can do over a weekend.

The first impression your home makes or its “curb appeal” is a major factor in determining the price of your home. The projects we suggest are all designed to improve this.

One often overlooked area is your concrete driveway, sidewalk, or steps. Dirty, grimy concrete makes your house look unkempt. The solution to this problem is power washing. You can rent a power washer at your local home improvement store or you can buy one starting at $100. Another solution can be a concrete stain. First you have to sweep, then power wash or scrub down the concrete. Then all you have to do is choose a color, buy a gallon, and roll the stain onto the concrete.

Something else that can improve the curb appeal of your home is the color of your front door. Front doors that are a color that matches the house will not stand out. Changing the color to a bright or contrasting color will make the door stand out.

A project you can do inside your home is to update the light fixtures. Changing out old fixtures and wall plates for newer ones can also help improve the look of your home. Make sure you cut the breaker and turn off the electricity before you do anything though.

Another project you can do in your backyard is planting a vegetable garden. While this may not add a lot of equity to your home it will add another kind of value. Home gardening has become very popular with one in three families doing some form of gardening. It will also help you save money when it comes to getting fresh produce. Tips on starting your own garden can be found at www.garden.org.

Source:

Weekend Do-it-Yourself Projects
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20100330_projects.htm