Curb Appeal

First impressions are incredibly important whether you are looking to buy a home or selling your home. If you are looking to purchase a new home, try to look past a rough exterior and envision what potential it may have. Updating the front of a home can be relatively inexpensive, especially if you are willing to put in a little elbow grease.

With Peachtree Cottage, I tore out all of the existing landscaping, which had been neglected for quite some time, and started over. I planted a mix of boxwood bushes, azaleas and camellias. I then added antique cast iron urns with ferns and window boxes to increase the "charm" factor! I then directed my attention to the "fixtures." I found this storm door on craigslist, stripped the paint off the original front door and stained both to match one another. Lastly, I replaced the brass street numbers and swapped out the outdoor sconces with something more appropriate in size. I still would prefer to replace the shutters with the historically correct size, which would actually cover the window should they ever close. While it may be just a pet peeve of mine, decorative, undersized shutters vs. correctly sized shutters can make a surprising difference. Check back once replaced!

For those selling their homes, consider the small upgrades that I made to this Cape Cod. Fresh landscaping, some new light fixtures and welcoming plants can make a big difference. The curb appeal is much greater and not at a staggering price tag!

Projected Cost: $1,500

Actual Cost: $2,500