There’s no shame in living in an old house. However, years of existence and the ever-changing weather can cause your home’s beauty to fade gradually.
Whether you’re thinking about selling down the line or you simply wish to give your property’s curb appeal a healthy boost, painting certain parts of its exterior is the best way to go. Paint can do wonders for a house, especially in bringing back its former glory. When combined with creativity and resourcefulness, you can easily liven up your old home and turn it into an attractive real estate investment.
To get you started, here are six features and fixtures outside your home that a fresh coat of paint can enhance:
1. The Front Door
Replacing your front door is an excellent starting point for a home makeover. In fact, a study conducted by a door manufacturer revealed that upgrading this part of the house can increase the perceived value of a property, on top of a return on investment of over 50 percent of the money used for the renovation.
Of course, changing the door isn’t your only option. If you don’t have the sufficient budget for replacing the entire door, you can have it painted instead.
Base your colour choice on trends and how the door complements the rest of the house. Better yet, walk around the neighbourhood to gather inspiration on the tones that appeal to your community and work well with the surroundings.
Neutral hues can do the job most of the time, especially in terms of matching colours with the rest of the house. But if you’re looking to sell and want your home to stand out, you should consider choosing bolder and more vibrant tones.
2. The Fence
If you have a fence that doesn’t stand out, or no fence at all, real estate investors may have second thoughts on buying your property no matter how beautiful your house is. Because of this, you should also use your resources to provide your house with a fence that will complete
that homey feel most people seek. Having a lovely, newly painted fence also sends a message to potential buyers that your property is well-maintained.
3. The Mailbox
Although mailboxes are made to store and secure your correspondence and subscriptions, they can also give your home’s curb appeal a good boost when repainted.
Believe it or not, this nifty item is one of the first elements that attract people to a property. What’s more, it’s probably one of the simplest repainting projects you can DIY. Even if you don’t plan on selling your house, ensuring that your mailbox looks pristine also shows how much you take care of your property (much like the fence).
In choosing a colour, you can have your mailbox painted in the same hue as your main door, or choose a tone that pops up from the rest of the property. Of course, you can also opt for a more neutral colour scheme to achieve that classic, timeless look.
4. The Porch or Deck
Porches and decks extend the living space of any home. They also offer added value to the property and enhance its appeal to help attract potential buyers. Plus, ensuring that these extensions are well-maintained can help with the longevity of the entire house. To freshen up your deck or porch, only use high-quality exterior paint products that are made for specific types of surfaces. You can also check the ratings of certain products based on their resistance to colour change, cracking, mildew growth, and dirt.
5. The Exterior Window Trim
While these may seem like small details, exterior window trims or a window reveal can actually enhance the overall aesthetic of a house. Leaving this element out of your repainting project can prove to be a big mistake as it is bound to stand out from the rest of the structure.
Although many people choose different shades of white for this part of the house, you can also have it painted the same colour as your front door. This will lend a unified effect throughout the property and effectively achieve that curb appeal boost that inspired you to repaint your house in the first place.
6. The Plant Boxes
Plant boxes are decorative and functional elements of the exterior of the house. These fixtures help enhance the impact of the presence of plants on your property.
With that said, you should also consider having your plant boxes repainted according to your chosen colour scheme for the house. Matching it with fitting outdoor hues will also have a good effect on the property’s overall aesthetic.
A fresh coat of paint for the exterior of your house can help in enhancing your property’s curb appeal and increasing its selling value. If you’re thinking about doing this for your home, but don’t have the budget for redoing the entire structure, you can try combining two or more of the repainting projects listed in this article to achieve your desired effect.