As we begin to emerge from our homes, many homeowners are anxious to once again roam the bright aisles of the local home improvement store, searching for the next project to tackle. While you are planning those large and small projects, make sure you take a little time to tackle these really easy tasks that will improve your “curb appeal” and raise the value of your home.
Add a dab of color
Face it. We live in the desert, which means our landscape and our home colors reflect the “neutral” tones of the surrounding mesas that form our beautiful terrain. However, beautiful, this monchromatic palette can often look drab. So freshen up your entryway with a dab of color. Potted plants flanking the doorway can bring beautiful, fragrant flowers into your desert landscape.
If you aren’t sure that your thumb is green enough to keep potted annuals alive through the hot summer, then think about colorful pots full of cacti. A bright red or bright purple pot could add that pop, while you fill it with low maintenance, desert-hardy plants.
Control the weeds
Whether you have opted for rocky landscaping with no grass, or if you are nurturing small strips of green lawn, it’s important to make sure weeks disappear from your landscape. Weeds are adapted to our climate, grow quickly, and are extremely hardy. If you let your garden go without periodically weeding, you may walk out one day to find out that your weeds are bigger than your cacti!
Pulling weeds is one method of getting rid of the pesky growth, but really tough weeds may need to be treated with a weed killer.
Light the Night
It’s not uncommon for buyers to drive by homes they are interested in a various times of the day. If you are preparing to sell your home, it’s important that your home look warm and inviting at all hours. Even if you aren’t planning to sell your home, it’s amazing what a difference the right lighting can make to your enjoyment of your outdoor spaces. You can highlight a special landscape feature, liven a walkway or entryway, or accent an architectural feature.
Give your door the royal treatment
Nothing says “blah” like a faded, peeling, or sad looking door. Installing a new door that provides visual interest and allows natural light to into your home can go a long way to improving your homes value and curb appeal. However, if you can’t afford a brand new door right now, a fresh coat of paint or refreshed stain on a wood door can give a finished look to your home. If you are painting your door, consider a bright, contrasting color (as long as it’s allowed by your HOA).
Refresh your house numbers
If your house numbers are looking a little worse for wear, it’s time to spruce them up. Faded, missing, or damaged house numbers not only look unkempt, it can make it difficult for buyers to find your home. In addition, it poses a safety issue, as emergency services may have trouble locating your home in the event of an emergency.
For added curb appeal, replace your house numbers with new numbers. If budget is an issue, you may be able to remove the numbers, spray paint them, then replace them after drying. Be sure to seal with a top coat made for UV protection or high heat to help the paint last longer in the Arizona sun.
Make your mailbox shine
Most of us don’t even think about our mailboxes. They are just this utilitarian feature of every home. However, nothing says “neglect” to a potential buyer or passersby like a beat up mailbox. If your mailbox has seen better days, a fresh coat of paint and fresh numbers may do the trick. If your post has been damaged, you may need to repair or replace it. Check with your HOA first, as they may have post, type, and color requirements for your mailbox.
All of these projects can easily be tackled in a weekend, especially if you tag-team with a spouse or partner. Your home can really stand out with a little bit of loving attention to the small details!
Susan Pellegrini and Karen DeGeorge are ready to put their care and expertise to work for you. Buying or selling, our first-class service comes with a wealth of experience and eye for detail, ready to focus on you. Visit our website to learn more and contact us or give us a call at (480)- 315-1575, we’re here for you.
