Improvements that increase curb appeal are not only pleasing to the eyes, they can also get a decent return on investment come selling time.
What are some of these upgrades that can get you the most bang for your buck? Below are four suggestions.
Install steel garage doors
Going with steel for your garage door has a couple of benefits.
First, it saves you time and resources from doing paint jobs — which is typical with wooden doors. Although you can opt to repaint garage steel doors, it’s perfectly fine to leave them as is, especially if they have a high-end and premium finish.
Second, steel doesn’t require frequent maintenance and is extremely durable. Lastly, you can add insulation (e.g. batt, foamboard insulation etc.) to avoid drafts and air leaks in the garage.
24-gauge steel garage doors offer the ideal balance of coverage and durability. You can go with lower cost doors which are 27 or 28-gauage steel, but the panels run thin and may not be able to withstand low level impact. ;
Add decorative rocks and stones
Adding high quality rocks to your home’s external features is one of the easiest ways to make a good impression on potential buyers.
A decent and attractive rock bed will cost you around a few hundred dollars per square foot. Additionally, it doesn’t need a lot of care and attention for maintenance.
Just make sure that when you’re landscaping with rocks, you’re not just using any ordinary rock. For instance, if you incorporate highly brittle ones like limestones, the area could end up like it just got dumped with a pile of rubbish. Instead, choose high quality ones like cobble rocks and mountain crushed rocks.
For more inspiration on how to incorporate rocks and natural stone to boost your home’s profile, check out this HGTV guide on using rocks in your landscape.
Repaint your home using acrylic latex paint
Acrylic latex paint is suitable for a range of surfaces. It goes well with brick, metal, aluminum, cement and more. It is also considered as the best type of latex paint you’ll find on the market. A gallon of quality acrylic latex paint costs around $40 to $50.
This type of paint can give your home a fresh new look without cracking or deteriorating. Unlike oil-based paints, acrylic latex paint doesn’t experience discolorations after several years.
For the environmentally conscious, acrylic latex paint trumps oil-based paint. For one, it doesn’t require cleaning solvents to remove from brushes and sprayers. Water and mild detergent will usually more than suffice. Overall, acrylic has better adhesion, breathability, as well as color retention.
Grow low-maintenance plants
A beautiful and vibrant display of plant life is a sure way to elevate the look and feel of your home. Barberries, peonies, smoke trees are relatively easy to grow and maintain in your yard.
Make sure to do a bit of research on which plants are native in your area. If you plant ones that aren’t acclimatized to a specific region’s rainfall levels and temperature range, you may find yourself investing too much time and resources just to grow a few stems and leaves.