If you ever watch home improvement television shows or read remodeling magazines, you’ve probably had the importance of curb appeal drilled into your head. This might have led you to do a wide variety of exterior renovations to your house. While curb appeal is undoubtedly crucial and can do a lot of good things, like raise your property value and boost your pride in where you live, you also need to make sure you aren’t making some common curb appeal mistakes.
As you read through the rest of this guide, you will learn about five errors you might have fallen victim to without even realizing it. Fortunately, no curb appeal mistake is insurmountable and, once you realize you’re doing it, you can correct it with no lasting negative effects to you or your home.
- Making too many improvements – In a world where social media and inspirational blogs reign supreme, many people have a penchant for over-improving the outsides of their homes. In the long run, though, this can lead to a negative return-on-investment. If you live in a modest neighborhood, but you’re making high-end exterior upgrades, the odds are good that you’ll never make that money back, even if you plan to list your current property in the near future.
- Wasting too much time on maintenance – All those improvements you’ve added to the outside of your house also include maintenance. Too often, especially when homeowners fall into the trap of over-improving, they end up spending a lot of extra time performing outdoor chores, whether it is trimming and pruning landscaping, cleaning a pool, or simply making sure other features are in good working order. Excessive upkeep can take away from time with your loved ones.
- Focusing too much on the big picture – While having a home that looks nice when you pull up to it is great, it is possible to put too much effort into the overall appearance of your house and neglect tiny details. If, for instance, it has been a long time since your windows were washed, your porch was swept, or your porch light functioned properly you might want to start focusing on details instead of another big, pricey project.
- Disregarding the style of your house – Some homes simply don’t look right with certain improvements. If, for example, you reside in an ultra-modern new build, traditional stained glass might not work for you. Or, if you live in a beach house, dark, rustic wood all over your porch might not be the best call. In short, it is absolutely imperative to carefully consider the style of your house before you make any exterior alterations.
- Putting off important improvements – Sometimes, important curb appeal updates, like replacing cracked siding or broken roofing shingles, need to be done, and homeowners put them off for one reason or another. If you’ve been doing this, call a reputable contractor as soon as possible.
The team at Hatch Homes is more than happy to consult with you about your home’s current curb appeal status. We want to make sure you do updates that are going to get you a positive return-on-investment and make you and your family happy for years into the future. If you’d like to schedule a meeting today, just call our office, and we’ll get you on the calendar at a time that works for you.