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All About That Curb Appeal

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You only get one shot at a good first impression so let’s make it count! With spring finally here and the warm weather upon us (hopefully soon)  it’s time to start thinking of the outside of our homes. When it comes to improving your home’s curb appeal, there are many small inexpensive changes that can make a strong impact on the first impression. Below are some affordable and helpful tips that will help you accomplish your curb appeal dreams.

 

Dress up the driveway

Driveways and walkways are often the one thing that gets forgotten about the most when it comes to landscaping. To jazz up your driveway and curb appeal start with removing any weeds or moss that may be growing from the cracks and joins. If you happen to come across some large cracks try and fill them the best you can. For more of an aesthetic feel; line the driveway with some small shrubs or greenery to give it more of a vibrant look and feel.

   

 

Refresh the planter beds

Shape up your garden beds by giving them a good pruning and weeding. This will help remove any plants that didn’t quite make it or are starting to die off. Consider adding some brightly colored new plants to give your planter bed that exciting pop of color. When adding new elements to your garden, choose plants that won’t obstruct the home, you want something simple yet elegant that will frame your house. You can also add some fresh top soil or mulch to freshen it up. If you have a stone or brick border around your garden, replace any pieces that may be cracked or damaged. If you don’t have a border around your flower bed ensure that you give the grass a good edging to give it a sharp clean look. Prime spots for planter beds are in the front corners of your yard, along the driveway or walkway – think small shrubs, and right in front of your home.

    

 

The grand entry

Your front door is the focal point to your home, you want it to be appealing yet welcoming. Make a statement with giving your front door a pop of color by painting it. There are so many different color options to choose from. This will freshen up the look of your home and give potential buyers something to remember.

     

Inviting porch

Make your front porch welcoming to your guests. Add a few chairs with a few brightly colored accent pillows and a throw with a small bistro table to draw some excitement to your front porch. You can even go as far as having a few small potted succulents for some greenery or perhaps a pot of your favorite flowers. Adding some well-placed classic accessories can also give your front porch that added boost of curb appeal. Consider adding a seasonal wreath to your front door or even some large lantern candle holders to draw your eye in. Remember to keep the size of your front porch in mind while decorating. You don’t want to go overboard and clutter it up with too many elements. Simple and bright personality is key.

  

 

Replace old dated hardware

House numbers, door handles and overhead light fixture are quick and easy elements to update to add some personalized style and interest to your homes curb appeal.  There are lots of simple DIY projects that you can find for creating an eye appealing look for your house. Try mounting the numbers on planks of wood to give it that modern look; or keep it more traditional by placing the numbers on a small plaque to make them stand out. New drop down lighting will also give your home that wow appeal.

    


Paint the planters

An easy solution to give you that pop color by your front door is painting those boring planter pots. Jump a little outside your comfort zone and try a bold color like blue or purple. Once you start adding your flowers into the pots it will brighten everything up giving it a new exciting look.

        

 

Light the Way

Solar powered lighting can make a huge impact on the curb appeal of your home while adding security. Lighting up your driveway or walk way to your home can give it that nice ambiance you may be looking for while still being functional.  Solar lighting is extremely cost effective as it won’t rack up your hydro bill and the install is very user friendly – no cords!

      

 

Designing the right curb appeal may take some time, but think of it this way. Spend a couple weekends out in the beautiful warm weather and make your home look fantastic while you bask in the sunshine.  Having the right curb appeal for your home will give your potential buyers something to remember when viewing your home.

 

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WELCOME SPRING!

 

Despite the chill that’s still lingering in the air, spring is finally here! Many of us associate the word spring with budding flowers and sunshine, but it also means that it’s time to break out those cleaning gloves and tackle the task of Spring Cleaning.

Spring cleaning is no small task, it can often turn into a huge project. To make your spring cleaning tasks a little more manageable, here are a few tips that can help you tackle your home.

 

1. Plan of Attack

Lists can often help people stay organized especially tackling a project like Spring Cleaning. Before you get started, walk through each room and write down what you want to accomplish. Writing a list out also helps to make sure you have all the cleaning materials you need before you start.

 

2. Turn up the Tunes

Put together a cleaning playlist to make the task more fun! Listening to music while cleaning may help make things go by faster, keep you motivated and of course it’s an extra work out!

 

3. Clean One Room at a Time

It’s easy to get overwhelmed and side tracked when you want to accomplish cleaning your entire house! Baby steps… stick with cleaning one room at a time, or pick two or three rooms to accomplish on the weekend. This way your whole house isn’t thrown upside down all at once. Much easier to manage.

 

4. Purge!

As you go through each room, make sure to declutter. Recycle old magazines, put items you no longer use, need or wear, like that tshirt you bought a year ago but never wear into a three bin system; keep sell or donate. Decide if it’s worth it to sell, or simply put it in a box to donate. Using a three bin system works well to keep you organized and on task

 

5. Set a Timer

It’s hard to stay on track when cleaning. You may find items you’ve forgotten about, lost, or old photographs, and before you know it you’ve spent the entire day cleaning just one closet because your too busy reminiscing the past. Set a timer so you don’t fall into this trap. Much like a list, it can help you stay on track.

 

6. Recruit Some Help

Don’t do all the cleaning yourself. What’s better than a cleaning party?! Recruit your kids, significant other or friends to help you out. When you can divvy up the work, it will hopefully take less time than if you do it all by yourself and its good company!

 

7. Top to Bottom

Start cleaning from the top of the room and work your way down. Knock down all those dusty cobwebs from the corner, dust the light fixtures, clean the windows, dust the furniture, and finally finish with the floors.

 

8. Think Green

Many chemical-based cleaners emit hazardous fumes. No matter what cleaners you use, remember to always read the labels. Instead of using numerous rolls of paper towel for cleaning, check out a microfiber cloth. They can be used on multiple surfaces and pick up dust like no other!

 

9. Fresh Air

Even when it’s cold and cloudy outside, it’s a great idea to open up all the windows in the room you’re working in. It lets the fresh air circulate and immediately freshens up the house. If you’re sensitive to all the dust you’re stirring up while cleaning the fresh air will also help.

 

10. Reward Yourself for a Job Well Done

Having something to look forward to at the end of a long day of cleaning sure makes things go faster. Plus, you worked hard and deserve it. Treat yourself to that bottle of wine you’ve been eyeing or take the opportunity to order in dinner; because let’s face it, who likes to make dinner and make a mess in your newly clean kitchen after a full day of spring cleaning.

 

 

Alright, so these tips won’t make all the dirt magically disappear, but the tips above may help you make the task a little bit easier. Remember to take your time and have fun!  You don’t have to do everything in one day, that’s why it’s called “Spring Cleaning” For a full Spring Cleaning checklist check out my website for an easy print version!

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