The eye sore of the street…

Taking care of the exterior of your home is just as important (if not more) as maintaing the interior. If you are thinking of selling your home, the exterior of your home is what is going to grab the buyers’ eyes. Let’s face it, if your house looks like a dump from the outside, cars will not even slow down to look at it.

So the big question is, does improving the exterior of your home have to cost an arm and a leg? Absolutely not! Here is how….

1. Trees

Overgrown trees can make any house look run down and dingy. If trees have not been trimmed in years, you may need a chainsaw to get things back under control. Then a heavy duty loppers should do the trick and be a much simpler task the next time. We usually trim our trees a couple times a year.

2. Hedges/Shrubs

Hedges and shrubs can also quickly get out of control. If not properly maintained, some of them can essentially “take over your house”. They can become so overgrown, they are beyond trimming. It is easier to dig them out and start over.

3. Spade Edging

Don’t have money for brick or stone edging? Don’t want to take the time to put in metal or even rubber edging? No need!! A simple “spade edge” will go a long way. A cleanly edged drive way and landscape border will go a long way in improving your yard!

4. Get to know your plants (and discuss your outdoor plans with family and friends!)

At our most recent house flip, we payed $0 for plants! I had a friend that was getting rid of and trimming down many of her perennials! When you are looking to buy/inherit plants, it is important to know what will do well in sun or shade and how tall they will get to be. This will help you in deciding where to plant everything. Keep in mind, you will want your taller plants in the back, have a variety of texture, and have a good mixture of plants that something is always in bloom all year long. Create some symmetry with your plants, but also some variation. Keep your plants in their pots and arrange them above ground until you are happy with your layout. Then get out your trusty spade and start digging your holes! Dig them deep enough to cover your roots. Throw a few good handfuls of some starter plant dirt in the hole and then fill it half way with water. Then stick your plant in the ground and pat it down tightly. Make sure they get the right amount of water for the first couple of weeks after planting.

5. Paint

Paint is the most inexpensive, labor intensive change you can make to the exterior of your home. Painting the trim is EXTREMELY tedious but makes a serious impact! Sure you could hire a painter, but why not save that money for your next project? Unless or course, you are a terrible painter– then please hire someone! 🙂

Here is our “after” picture.