Easy Ways To Add Visual Impact To The Outside Of Your Home

by | Apr 21, 2019 | Home

There are certain things that buyers consider to be the most important aspects of a home. A recent study told us that:

  • The furnishings and decor of a home make up a massive 27% of what viewers look at
  • The clutter and mess took up 24% of what the viewers looked at
  • The house layout took up 4% of viewing focus
  • Women are more distracted by clutter than men
  • Men spend more time looking at the structure of the home, and the grounds features
  • Women notice the personal aspects of a home more than men

Interestingly, the same study also showed that 22% of the viewer’s focus was held by the exterior features and garden. If you have been thinking about selling your home, or simply improving it for summer or, because you have some spare cash to invest in the place you love the most, the outside of the home might not be the first thing you think about changing. However, a property’s external appearance can have a huge influence on how it looks, how it represents your family and how you feel when you pull in to your street and see your property.

If you are planning on selling, the kerb appeal of your house is even more important as studies show it takes buyers just eight minutes to decide if they like a house or not.

If you want to make the look of your house fit your family, don’t worry, it doesn’t need to break the bank, it doesn’t even need to take much effort at all. Your home can be impactful very quickly, with some very easy changes:

Budget-Friendly Changes

If you are on a budget and don’t want to do any major external remodelling at this time, there are some really great budget-friendly changes you can make:

Remove The Ivy

Ivy can make a house look more beautiful, but most people see it and instantly think about brick damage and the effort of maintaining it. With just a step ladder and a free afternoon you can unpick the ivy and remove it from your property, then deal with the roots. You can find some tips on killing ivy roots for good in this handy article. If the ivy has taken over, please do seek professional help in removing it.

Paint The Door

A brightly coloured beautiful door is much more appealing than you realise. It draws the eye to the entrance of the house and away from any property misgivings. A brightly coloured door is truly inviting and will reflect the character of your home and family.

Clean, Clean, Clean

When was the last time you cleaned the front of the house? Washed the garage door, took the cobwebs off the front door and washed the tiles down? A good clean of the front of your home is free and will instantly brighten up how it looks.

Choose High-End Door Accessories

The doorknob or handle and the letterbox will lift the look of the door, and reflect well on the property. Choose something smart, classy and in style with your home ie. not a period letterbox on a modern home. You will be surprised how much of a difference it makes!

Declutter

Decluttering the front garden will instantly refresh how it looks. Any old plant pots, dead plants and general front garden rubbish should be removed. It is free to do this and you might even have items you can sell for extra cash – like that impulse buy Victorian cottage style bench that never really fit in.

De-weed

Removing the weeds from the front of your home will instantly smarten it up. Grass and weeds growing between tiles are particularly unattractive and very easy to remove. Simple chemical treatments and even just some elbow grease will get rid of the plants easily. You can even stay eco-friendly and use chemical-free treatments, as detailed in this handy article published in the media.

Changes That Cost A Little More

If you do have a bit of money to splash on home improvements there are some impactful changes you can make to the outside of your house:

Add Some Smart Lighting

Lights by the door, in the trees or by the garden path will help showcase your house all hours of the day. Rather than opting for a basic security light, consider approaching a professional company to advise you on professional lighting for the front of your home.

Consider A New Drive

If your drive is broken, or it is majority grass and moss, bare gravel or it is just generally unsightly then perhaps it is time to consider a new drive. They do not come cheap, even for basic concrete, but they are a really good investment if you truly want to improve the way the front of your home looks. It could even make your home more practical if it turns your parking into a double drive (in the case of going over a lawn).

How About Cladding?

Cladding can instantly make a house look incredibly smart, adding some dynamic and texture to its appearance. There are many great options, with stone, metal or even plastic cladding like the high-quality kind you can buy from Tru Plas. You might even be able to save some money by purchasing the cladding yourself and then hiring a qualified labourer to install it.

Improve The Gate And Wall

An old and broken looking gate and wall is a really poor way to boundary your home. Investing in gorgeous fencing or a new wall and a really nice gate will perfectly adorn your home and instantly smarten its appearance.

Paint The Front Of Your Home

You can paint the front of your home yourself but it can be very hard to get right, so it is best to pay a professional. A simple white shade will quickly clean up how the home looks and improve its appearance.

Find joy in everything you choose to do. Every job, relationship, home… it’s your responsibility to love it, or change it. –  Chuck Palahniuk

Even the cheapest changes to your home can make a huge difference to its appearance, and if you do have money to invest, some smart investments can be instantly impactful. The front of your home has huge potential to represent your beautiful family and what your home means to you.

Read through our useful guide for more information

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