Never underestimate the power of curb appeal to help you with a successful home sale. With the colder weather on its way, a great front yard curb appeal can mean the difference between selling your home before the holidays (and decorating a new one) and once again dragging out the holiday decorations.
Here are 7 tricks to improve curb appeal for a successful home sale according to Trulia:
Mulch heavily
The colder weather is just around the corner; expect flowers to begin to die which could turn your beds into eyesores. Deal with this dilemma by getting a new layer of mulch. It won't only serve as an eye candy, it could also protect your flowers and beds from the harsh weather.
Red cedar bark is a popular choice as it adds a punch of color. However, the vegetable dye could fade quickly especially if you live in an area where it often rains. Remulch twice per year; or if you're running on a budget, choose a more durable material such as pine straw, wood chips, or even pea gravel.
Create a rock garden
If you are looking to improve your curb appeal with something that doesn't require much maintenance, go for a rock garden because of its drought-friendly qualities. The good thing about rock gardens is that you no longer have to wait for trees to grow or flowers to bloom. You can also choose to make it either beautifully simple or intricate. Having this feature will definitely steal the show during your open house this weekend.
Add trim
Elevate the basic look of your house into something extraordinary by adding an extra layer of trim or molding to your windows and doors. You can choose from hundreds of different designs ranging from simple craftsman style to more ornate Victorian and Queen Anne motifs. Depending on your budget, you can either add a layer of crown molding to the top of your current trim or remove your existing trim so the possibilities are endless.
Add shutters
If you can't seem to pinpoint what's lacking in your curb appeal, shutters might be precisely the missing component to boost it. There are a variety of styles that you can choose from: traditional louvered rectangular shutters, arch-top board-and-batten style. Aside from being decorative, they also serve as protection from high winds and storms.
Paint your brick
Paint your unremarkable brick style by spraying on a layer of paint and give them an updated look. However, allow yourself plenty of time for prep work as pressure washing, repairing cracks, and priming the brick take time but are essential to a great paint job.
Update your front door
A cheap but impactful way to improve your curb appeal is by painting your front door with a popping, contrasting color. Try a bright color such as lipstick red or if that's not your style, go for a more muted color such as sea blue, sage green, or even black.
Replace your house number
In under $50, you can modernize your curb appeal by replacing your house numbers with something more stylish like an updated font to replace the old one that's been up since the 1970's. Also consider using new materials such as metal or wood; both look great and can last a long time.
