Does Your Home Have "Curb Appeal"?


First impressions are important. This is true not only with the way we present ourselves to others, but also the impression we give people with our homes. Whether you are preparing your house to sell, or simply looking for a feeling of satisfaction when you come home at the end of a long day, here are some simple ways to make sure your home is maximizing it's curb appeal.

1. Roof
It is important not only for home maintenance, but also for appearances that your roof is in good repair. Be sure all shingles are intact, with no curling edges. Also be aware of your chimney. Loose mortar and crumbling brick can also detract from your homes appeal.

2. Siding
If your siding is faded and dull consider painting it. A good quality exterior paint will give you years of durability and colour retention. Painting your siding can give your home an immediate face lift. When choosing a colour, make sure it compliments the rest of your exterior. A warm neutral siding works well with stone and brick, giving your home a harmonious look.

3. Windows and Trim
Repair cracked and broken glass. Often times we become oblivious to a small crack in a door or window, after seeing it everyday. Although invisible to us, it can be very noticeable to others. It is also important to clean all windows inside and out a few times a year. From the outside, this will give your home a nice sparkle, as the light reflects off of your shiny clean glass. It's amazing how much curb appeal this can provide. Finally, peeling, dull and faded paint must be restored. Remove all loose paint. Prime and top coat using a colour which compliments the rest of your exterior. Again, consider the surrounding colours when selecting your trim colour.

4. Shutters
If you have a very large window, and only enough room for a very small shutter, the best thing to do is remove the shutter. If you are looking for a way to add colour, or highlight the window, consider planter box with greenery, or colourful flowers. Although the shutters we use today are purely decorative, it is best if they look functional. When at all possible, exterior shutters should fit the window. In other words each side should cover half of the window if they were able to close. If you have shutters that are too small for your window, but removing them is not an option, paint them a neutral colour a few shades darker than the surface they are on. This will minimize the contrast, and add more balance to the window. To maximize contrast paint your shutters a complimentary colour. For example, on a red brick house, shutters in a very deep green can be striking. As with all exterior surfaces, make sure your shutters are free of loose and peeling paint. Repair any damage, and add a fresh coat of paint to dull and faded shutters.

5. Foundation
Visible cracks should be repaired. If painting is required a neutral colour in a flat paint is best. Your foundation is not the place to make a dramatic colour statement, as it will take the eye away from areas like the front door, which you want to draw attention to.

6. Front Door or Entry Door
Often this is where a bold colour statement is useful. A front door should be welcoming, and eye catching. If your door is in a dark area a brighter colour will help to draw attention to it. A deep rich colour in contrast to the rest of the exterior another great way to add contrast and drama. A door is a great area to experiment with trendier colours, as it is easy to repaint. Most often, an entry door will need to be repainted every five years.Hardware should be polished and in good repair, and the door should be free of chipped or faded paint. When choosing a colour for your front door consider the existing colours on your home. In a case where you want to attract people to another door as an entrance, colour can also be useful. Minimize the contrast on the door you don't want people to use by painting a more neutral colour. Landscaping can also be helpful in directing people to the area you want them to use.

7. Garage Door
A garage door is often a very large part of the front of a home. Many houses are designed in such a way that the garage door is the first thing you see when approaching the house. It is very important to make sure your garage door is free from peeling and cracked paint, and the colour is not faded and dull. Depending on the style of your home, it could be best to paint the garage door in neutral colour which blends into the surrounding colours and attracts your eye to more colourful areas, such as the front door. On other styles, a deep rich colour on the garage door will create a more balanced and dramatic look. If the surrounding areas are a deep red or brown brick, painting a light neutral will create contrast and make the door stand out. Keep in mind that it is almost impossible to match a paint colour to brick, because bricks are generally not a solid colour. Therefore, it is better to find a shade that compliments the colour of the brick, but is the same intensity, when trying to minimize the contrast.

8. Porches, Decks, Railings and Posts.
Once again make sure these areas are free of damage, and have a fresh coat of paint whenever necessary. Porch floors usually require yearly maintenance due to a combination of moisture and foot traffic. Keep contrast in mind when painting railings and posts. To minimize contrast with the rest of the house, choose neutral shades. Often the colour on the trim will work well on posts and spindles. To add interest, paint the top and bottom railing on your porch a deeper colour, and leave the spindles a light colour. Although natural wood tones can be beautiful, consider how well they work with the rest of your home, when deciding on colour. On pressure treated wood, a solid stain in a colour which coordinates with your existing colours is often a better choice than a natural sealer. A tinted transparent stain is also useful, if a more natural look is desired.