The beauty of fall is quickly followed by the dead of winter. Trees that were vibrant orange, red and yellow are now lifeless sticks waving in the wind. For many, grass turns brown and curb appeal is at a minimal. Fortunately, curb appeal can be achieved even in the dead of winter!  The following 9 tips to add curb appeal in the winter can help bring any lifeless appearance back to life during the cold months.

1. Spruce up the mailbox. Start at the curb! Give the mailbox a makeover with a fresh coat of paint and a new set of numbers.  Placing numbers on the mailbox can add a graphic punch and adding an ornamental flag can bring in some added flavor too.
2. Light the way. If your home is set back from the street seeing it in the evening may be a difficult.  This is especially important during the winter because it gets dark so much earlier.  Use lighting to help illuminate the home, walkway and even driveway if needed.  Well placed lighting can do wonders to add curb appeal to your home at night.
3. Clear the way. Make sure a home is ready for visitors by clearing driveways, sidewalks, porches and decks.  In the fall and winter months one of the easiest things you can do to help a home look fresh, clean and well taken care of is to simply blow or sweep off the decks, porches, walkways and driveways.  Keep them as clear as possible so they look not only clean and neat but show their true space as well.
4. Trim the Trees. In the winter months limbs tend to break off and overgrown trees really look more ragged.  To help your home have the most curb appeal in the winter, trim those trees and bushes.  It’s really the best time to do it anyway while the leaves are not making an even bigger mess of things.  Keeping your trees and bushes healthy helps to boost the overall appearance that your home is well cared for.
5. Clean the lawn. During the fall, leaves and grass piles tend to pile up on a lawn. Don’t be that homeowner that just lets it hang around until spring.  A blanket of nasty old leaves and grass clippings is unappealing to everyone!  If your lawn mower has a bagger feature, run over the lawn a time or two with the bagger on to clean it up.  If not, get out the old rake and make your lawn look clean.
6. Emphasize the green. There are plenty of plants that can survive the cold.  Well placed plants can really help things to look healthy and vibrant.  Try planting tall grasses and evergreens next to the front door in colorful pots.  Also consider planting blue holly, it bears beautiful red berries in the winter and is great for our Carolina climate.
7. Add Color to the Entry. Nothing is more welcoming than a punch of color. Rich color on a front door adds a welcoming dimension to a harsh winter setting and demands a visitor’s attention.  You don’t have to paint your door red to accomplish this, but you do want to have a well painted door (not faded or chipped paint).  Adding a colorful wreath can easily do the trick of adding color!
8. Make the numbers count. Take a critical look at your house numbers, are they ugly?  Are they faded, broken or just don’t look good?  Ugly house numbers stand out more in the winter because you are not distracted by other colors and textures.  Consider buying new numbers that fit in with the style of your home.
9. Maintenance is the key. Take time to notice the small things. Clean gutters, light fixtures and windows. Nothing makes one want to stay away from a house more than walking up and seeing lots of cobwebs hanging around – yuk!  Wipe away cobwebs and keep sidewalks and steps free of ice, leaves and snow.  The attention to detail can be rewarding.

Check out these most recent listings in the Lake Norman area:

Whether its spring, summer, fall or dead of winter, you want your home to look it’s best!  No homeowner wants their home to look as though it is uncared for or not maintained properly.  Most people who see your home never see the inside.  They judge your home based on its curb appeal.  Paying attention to a property’s exterior can bring new life to a cold and worn out looking home.

If you are considering selling your home, consider this: many homebuyers make up their minds about a property in the first few minutes of approaching the door.  Make sure the home makes that all-important good first impression. Increasing curb appeal, especially in the winter is a great way to make your home more inviting and attractive.  If you are considering selling your home, improving your curb appeal is the first step to making your home appealing to the buyer and insuring a sale at the best possible price.

Christopher Breining, owner of HomeStagers Inc. in San Francisco says “The outside of your home is the first thing guests see.  And like it or not, it speaks volumes about what’s inside; and about the owner.” So, a beautifully updated front door, a traditional light fixture, a polished door knob, a colorful assortment of potted plants, and a well landscaped yard make people happy. Why? Because, as the saying goes…You never get a second chance to make a first impression.  Use these 9 tips to create the best curb appeal for winter and see the visitor’s line up at your door!

We hope these 9 tips to add curb appeal to your home was something you found helpful and informative.  If you are considering selling or buying a home this winter, please give us a call.  We would love to help you with your goals.

Alford Realty Group

Lisa Alford   704-408-2834

Lisa@AlfordRG.com

 

Here are some of our more recent sales.  Call us to discuss your real estate needs.