Now is a great time to think about your landscaping and curb appeal in Denver.
It’s spring, we still have snow, and sunshine (all in one day), we have water, and the bulbs are coming out of the ground.
What does curb appeal mean? It means that a house looks appealing or pleasing from the curb. Makes you feel welcome and looks taken care of.
Is curb appeal important when selling your home?
YES, it’s the first impression to your guests and if you ever want to sell, it is an important detail.
What elements can help with curb appeal?
According to Bradford Landscaping / landscape design in North Carolina, NC, common elements of a home with great curb appeal are: fresh complimentary paint colors, the sidewalks and landscaping are taken care of and it all flows with the style and orientation of the home to it’s surroundings, . Good curb appeal is simple, or layered and complex depending on your taste. Good curb appeal draws you in and makes you feel welcome, and maybe entertained, it makes you feel good.
As yourself… is the front of your house welcoming? How do you feel when you walk up to your front door?
The front of your house is where you interact with neighbors from a distance and welcome your guests. It’s where you relax with a good book or watch the kids play outside.
Here are some good examples of nice landscaping and curb appeal in Denver.
How do I change the landscaping for better curb appeal?
Step 1 – Take a photo of your house in the front and back even if there is snow.
- Does the sidewalk or the steps to your front door need to be fixed?
- Watch how the water is pouring out of the gutters and drains so you know what to redirect or what isn’t working properly.
- Take photos and mark where you either have bulbs coming up, or where you want them to come up next year. (you can buy little markers at the nursery.)
- The ground is getting soft, if you need to move some pavers or grass the ground is softest when it is wet and thawed.
Step 2 – Write down what did NOT work well this past winter at the house so that you aren’t frustrated next winter.
- Was it the muddy driveway to get into your house?
- Does the water drain and pool into ice where you or your neighbors walk?
- Did it just look boring and dead and you wished there was a little life when you walked up to your front steps?
- Make a list so you don’t forget to get that fixed this summer.
Step #3 – Think back to last summer, what worked well and what did not? What didn’t you have time or money to change in the front or back yard?
- Do you wish you had a little more seating for having friends over?
- Is it too hot in the summer but you want the light in the winter?
- You want flowers but you have too much concrete?
- Go back to one of the first questions…. How do you feel when you walk up to the front door?
Take Action!
We will have a few more snow days here in April take advantage and look through photos of houses you like! Maybe they don’t have the same architecture as your house, but do you like the way the sidewalk has a flower border? Maybe there are no flowers at all. How are the porches? Is there furniture? Are there pots with flowers? Is there a bird bath? Are the shutters black on a white house? Circle the parts you like, focus in on what you like.
Once you find the elements you like and pick a couple that you can complete in the early spring while things are muddy and wet and then a few more after Mother’s Day, when it is safe to plant the flowerpots and then a few more things as the summer is in full bloom (don’t forget to label your new gardens).
It seems like we might not be in stay-at-home mode all summer you might not want to spend all your free time working on the curb appeal but do spend some time on it. It is the first impression of your house and if you ever want to sell, you want it to look good and if you put a little work into it at a slow pace, you won’t have to do a lot of work right before you list and you never even got to enjoy it.
If you have no idea where to start, call me. I love looking at a house and am happy to give ideas to give it some oomph. I do have people who can help if we need professionals, landscapers, construction people. Maybe you just need a few things planted, I have a friend who takes small jobs to get your ideas going if you don’t want a full-on landscaper.
The curb appeal or first impression of your home is an inexpensive and high priority if you want to add value to your home.