How to Improve Your Home’s Curb Appeal in the Winter
While summer may be an easy time to improve your home’s curb appeal, winter can prove to be a bit more challenging. Warm summer weather means you will be spending more time outside and can easily do activities to improve your home’s exterior, like manicuring and fertilizing your lawn, updating your deck and farmer’s porch with pretty porch furniture, and planting a garden. While you may not be gardening and fertilizing your lawn in the winter, there are still quite a few ways to improve your home’s curb appeal in the winter to make sure your front yard is leaving a good impression on prospective buyers.
Paint or change the front door
It’s amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do to spruce up your front door. Whether you are keeping with the same color palette or switch to something new altogether, a new coat of paint will really make your entryway pop. If you’re looking for a bigger change, you can also replace your front door with a new, updated style. Check out your local Home Depot or Lowe’s to see what door options they have. Remember, your entryway should reflect your home’s interior, so choose something that reflects your personal style.
Hang a flag outside
A quick and easy way to add some color and appeal to your home is by hanging a flag outside. This eye-catching element will instantly add visual interest to your residence.
Switch out light fixtures
Outdoor lighting is an easy, cost-effective way to add appeal to your home. If your light fixtures are out of date or dingy, your home may not be as appealing as it could be. Add hanging porch lights, wall sconces and fence lights to make your home more inviting. When choosing light fixtures, you’ll want to make sure they all work together collectively instead of compete against each other. Think cohesive instead of mix-and-match!
Clean up the yard
Your home’s exterior and front yard are the first thing prospective buyers notice, so keeping everything in tip-top shape, even during the winter months, is crucial to a good first impression. Make sure your yard is clear of debris, fallen branches, leaves and lawn equipment. Trim back any unsightly branches and make sure any holes in the lawn are filled. Bushes should all be trimmed to the same height, stopping just below windows.
You’ll also want to make sure your driveway is clear of any unwanted toys, vehicles and lawn equipment. If you know prospective buyers might be stopping by during inclement weather, make sure you have a plan to clear the driveway and walkways before their arrival. You may also want to get rid of as many icicles hanging on the gutters or the roof as you can. Many experts also suggest applying a coat of sealant to concrete to keep dirt and oil from soaking into your driveway. Depending on where you live, this may need to be done before the first winter snowfall or temperature drop.
Repair any damaged fencing, siding, etc.
Take a look around your yard and make note of any damaged or weathered structures. A broken fence or window, damaged roof shingles and discolored or damaged siding can turn buyers off immediately. If you have a number of things that need fixing, you may want to look into a handyman to fix the smaller things quickly. You may also want to look into pressure washing your home to remove any dirt and grime either before temperatures plummet or if you live in a mild, temperate climate you can do this all year long.
Add winter foliage
While gardening might be out of the picture, you can still add color and interest with winter foliage. Decorate your patio with containers planted with perennials and winter foliage. Species like juniper, blue holly, barberry, boxwood and red-twig dogwood are able to stay green throughout the year, so they are great options to consider.
