Boosting Curb Appeal on a Budget

Homes in Chicagoland don't always emerge from winter looking their best, but with spring flowers blooming and lawns rapidly greening back up, spring is quick to set things right. Spring is also the most popular season to list homes for sale, and if you're planning on selling your Chicago home this season, curb appeal is essential.

Fortunately, boosting your curb appeal doesn't have to involve costly and time-consuming renovations. Our real estate agents are here to offer some simple and cost-effective tips for improving curb appeal, whether you're selling your home or simply want it to look its best. 

• Install flower boxes
  Flower boxes beneath your front-facing windows are a classic touch that can really amp up your curb appeal, especially during the warmer months. And with all sorts of colorful annuals and perennials available at local garden centers this season, now is a great time to install some.
  
  
• Paint your front door
  Is your front door starting to show signs of wear? It might be time for a fresh coat of paint. A few things can transform the entryway into your home, like repainting your door with a new color. To add a dash of personality, choose a shade that contrasts with your main house color, but be careful that it doesn't clash. 
  
  
• Practice good lawn care
  One of the least expensive ways to improve curb appeal is to maintain a green and healthy lawn. A good weed-and-seed treatment will help keep weeds to a minimum while supplying your grass with the nutrients it needs to stay green and healthy. If you haven't sharpened your lawn mower blades in a while, have them sharpened up for the new season so you can trim the grass more effectively.
  
  
• Powerwash your siding
  Just like your home's interior needs a spring cleaning, so does the exterior! Siding tends to get dingy very gradually, and we often don't notice how grimy it's gotten until significant amounts of dirt and mildew have built up. If your home's exterior hasn't been deep-cleaned in many years, now might be the right time to give it a good, thorough power-washing.
  
  
• Spread fresh mulch
  Old mulch can start to look dull after a few months, and last year's mulch is almost certainly due for replacement after a long winter. Investing in a few bags of wood chips and spreading them in planting beds and at the base of landscape trees and shrubs is an inexpensive way to make your lawn look its best. 
  
  
• Create a pathway
  Designing a scenic walkway in your front yard doesn't have to be a big, expensive project. With a few simple, affordable materials like stepping stones, gravel, and mulch, you can create a charming path that meanders through the garden or leads visitors directly to your front door. 
  
  
• Replace your house numbers
  Getting rid of your old house numbers and replacing them with new ones can quickly revitalize the look of your front door area. Choose some bold, eye-catching numerals for a fresh look, or keep it simple with some simple, timeless digits. 
  
  
• Plant a tree (or two)
  Few things can add a greater sense of lushness and life to your yard than planting trees. Even small, young trees can add a lot of curb appeal, and they may especially help entice home buyers who want to envision the large, shady trees they will one day grow into. Plus, it's an environmentally conscious addition to your home! 

Contact us today to learn more about improving your home's curb appeal, and be sure to ask our real estate agents about how we can help you sell your home in Chicagoland this season.