Whether you are moving into a new neighbourhood, or want to sell your home, in the built environment a strong and attractive streetscape is always of paramount importance. This article looks at how the kerb appeal of your property can be enhanced and maximised to increase its value.
What is kerb appeal?
When you are trying to sell your home, first impressions are critical. This is why your kerb appeal is so important. Your kerb appeal is the first thing potential buyers will see when they drive up to your home, so it is important to make a good impression. There are a few things you can do to improve your kerb appeal and increase your home’s value.
Why your exterior matters
If you’re trying to sell your home, first impressions count for a lot. In fact, your home’s kerb appeal can play a big role in its saleability and ultimately, its value.
It’s important to remember that buyers will often form an opinion about a property before they even step foot inside, so it’s important to make sure your home makes a good impression from the street.
Easy ways to improve your home’s kerb appeal
There are a few superficial things you can do to improve your home’s kerb appeal and therefore increase its value:
- Make sure your lawn is well-manicured and your gardens are tidy. Cut the grass, weed the flower beds, and trim the hedges. This will create a neat and tidy appearance that will make your home look more appealing. You may also want to add some plants/shrubs to add colour and interest to your garden.
- Another way to improve your kerb appeal is to power wash the exterior of your home, including the footpaths and driveway. This will remove any dirt or grime that has built up over time and make everything look clean and new again.
- Take a look at your front door. Is it in good condition? Does it need a new coat of paint? Does the hardware look worn or outdated? Updating your front door can make a big difference in how your home appears from the outside. After all, the door handle is the handshake of the building.
- Get new windows – if your windows are old and outdated, replacing them with new energy-efficient windows can not only improve the kerb appeal of your home but also help you save on energy bills.
- A good lick of paint goes a long way in improving the external appearance of your home. Something that is often missed is maintaining the facades as they do tend to become worn and greyed by weathering and general wear and tear.
- Consider making more practical improvements such as installing new gutters or repaving the driveway. These kinds of improvements can not only make your home look better but also make it more functional and therefore more valuable.
- Investments into seasonal items like planters, lights, hanging baskets and birdhouses/feeders/perches can be reflected in the value of your home. Additionally, if you have exterior lighting check to make sure they’re working and can be seen at night. The lighting gives off a welcoming feeling so ensure it will do just that.
Making even small improvements to your home’s kerb appeal can make a big difference to its value over time.
The importance of walkability
It’s not just your home’s kerb appeal that matters – its walkability is just as important, especially when it comes to increasing your home value. Walkability is a measure of how safe, easy and enjoyable it is to walk in an area, and homes in highly walkable neighbourhoods tend to be more valuable than those in areas where it’s difficult or unpleasant to walk.
There are many reasons why walkability is so important. For one, potential buyers are always looking for homes in convenient locations, and a neighbourhood with good walkability ticks that box. Good walkability also makes it easier to get around without a car, which is an increasingly desirable trait as environmental concerns grow. Finally, homes in highly walkable areas tend to have a lower crime rate, which is another big selling point.
Architectural upgrades to increase kerb appeal
There are many ways to increase the kerb appeal of your home, but one of the most important is by creating architectural focal points. These can be things like a beautiful entryway, interesting rooflines, or even just different heights in your landscaping. By creating these focal points, you’ll give your home an added sense of interest and value.
Architectural focal points with varying heights
Rooflines create architectural interest and focal points. Intricate rooflines can also make your home much more attractive. The addition of different rooflines is a fun way to add kerb appeal and architectural importance to your home. An arched entryway adds interest and importance to the front entrance. An arched doorway or gate can be a great architectural feature that helps draw attention to the main part of a home. It’s particularly effective in smaller homes where the desired focal point has little space for an over-the-top addition, it gives people something pretty to focus on and sweeps them into its sophisticated elegance upon entry. This same tactic can be applied to doors by foreshadowing their ultimate height with an arch or other protrusions from the door itself as it’s leading into the home.
Roof tiles and colour
Using non-traditional composite tile profiles and colour combinations also offers additional architectural interest. Colour plays a huge role in the overall kerb appeal of your home’s design. The exterior colours you choose convey an array of emotions depending upon the hues and dimensions that you select. If you’re aiming to create a space of formality, selecting a symmetrical composition with neutral earth tones can create a warm and inviting feel. It’s also good to keep colour in mind when selecting roof material as product profiles are becoming increasingly diverse. A roofing specialist or roof tile supplier can help you select from an array of unique profiles and colour combinations. Consider using a vetted roofing supplier from our supplier connect service.
Stylish exterior hardscapes
Finally, an often-overlooked element of adding kerb appeal to your architectural drawings begins before you even get to the front door – driveways, stairs and walks draw in visitors and create a well-disposed walkway. Hardscapes can accent any home by including large masonry features of brick or quaint stone water fountains. The viability of hardscape attributes often depends on the region; however, under amiable weather conditions, they promote better communal spaces than others.
