Spring is the perfect time to give the outside of your home a fresh facelift. Even if you aren’t trying to sell your home, there’s a real benefit to enhancing and maintaining your home’s curb appeal.  
Exterior upgrades consistently rank among the best home improvement projects for their strong return on investment. That’s because many of these strategies are fairly simple and relatively affordable solutions.  

While some homes may benefit from more extensive and expensive updates, like repaving a damaged driveway or replacing old windows, there are many simple, low-cost updates that you can tackle yourself.
The first step is to assess your home’s appearance, but this time, look at it from a home buyer’s perspective. Imagine that you are seeing it for the first time, and then make a list of the characteristics that stand out immediately, and which ones you want to highlight.

To help get you started, here are some areas to evaluate:
• Lighting – A dimly lit walkway is not only dangerous, it’s also uninviting. Pathway lighting products are available in a wide variety of designs and price ranges, but even some of the more economical options can be visually appealing at night.

Also consider upgrading the lighting on your front porch. There are many light fixtures that will complement the style of your home and can give an immediate boost to your home’s entrance.

• Paint – You’ve probably heard it many times before, but the power of paint cannot be overstated. A fresh coat of paint on the front door, garage door and window trim can make a huge difference.

• Front Door – If your front door has seen a lot of use and abuse over the years and it’s beyond repair, it might be time to have it replaced. A new door can be sometimes be costly, but it’s a surefire win when it comes to instant curb appeal, especially if you select a bold color.  

• Grime – The effects of moisture from snow and rainfall from the winter months likely means an accumulation of dirt has set in on your driveway, front steps, walkways and vinyl siding. Invest in (or rent) a high-powered pressure washer to clean these areas with relative ease.  The high-pressure water spray removes mold, grime, dust, mud and dirt from surfaces around the exterior of your home.

• Grass – If you’re looking to sell your home in the near future, having a well-maintained lawn is critical. The National Association of Realtors studied the outdoor features that are most appealing to prospective buyers, and having a nice lawn was at the top of the list.
For more suggestions about improving your home’s appearance, contact the Central Washington Home Builders Association at CWHBA.org.