As they say, “when you know, you know”. But what if that isn’t the case? Perhaps you need a good reason to make a change to the exterior of your home and to convince yourself or someone else that it’s a necessary expense. However, sometimes we don’t even realise the damage that we’re doing with our lack of interest in our home’s aesthetic appeal. Here are six very good reasons to do something about your less-than-ideal home exterior. 

You’re looking to sell and aren’t getting good prices 

This is the number 1 reason people choose to make a big change to the outdoor portion of their home. It can be a bit of a shock to the system to be quoted a selling price that doesn’t reflect the love you feel for the home you live in.  

However, not everyone sees it as you do. Try to approach the building with a fresh mind, as someone who has never seen it before. Look at the details, and try to imagine what you would change if you had all of the money in the world.  

Dream big, and then figure out how to put your ideas into place on your budget.  

You’ve lost your kerb appeal 

It can be difficult to assess whether or not your home has lost some of it’s lustre, since we see it every day and don’t notice the difference over time. Ask your friends and family if they’ve noticed any changes, and consult old pictures if possible.  

Subtle differences can make a huge difference to your home’s exterior – whether it be a scraggly bush, unkempt lawn borders or a leaf-strewn driveway. A lack of lighting can also make your home gloomy and unattractive during the nighttime hours.  

The garden is looking shabby

The easiest way to make a change is to work on your garden- it doesn’t require going down to the home improvement shop as you usually have all the tools you need already.  

Tidying up your borders is a quick and easy task you can do in an afternoon – just plant two sticks at either end of the straight lawn line you want to form, tie a string between them, and cut the lawn out along that line using a spade.  

Ivy makes a classic addition to any home and is easy to install – prop up some climbing frames underneath an ivy plant in a bed or a container. Draping vines are also beautiful and require very little maintenance.  

Your windows or doors are damaged 

Are your windows dirty? Make sure to clean them regularly. Are they still well-sealed? Hold a lit candle up to the sides of the windows while it’s closed to identify any air leaks – if they are this damaged they will need replacing. This is also true for rotten window frames.  

This is a huge issue for many homes – and one that is often not remediated because of the costs involved. Double glazing salesmen are notoriously pushy so you should steer clear until you arm yourself with all the information you need to make the right decision for your home.  

The best way to do this is to compare window quotes from multiple suppliers to make sure you choose the right one for you. They will also advise you as to whether you need replacement windows or new windows (there’s a small difference you can read about here).  

Your house looks outdated 

This is tricky to identify, but is certainly something friends and neighbours can help you with. If not, look critically at how your house fits in with its neighbourhood and whether it stands out in a good or a bad way.  

If it looks old-fashioned or outdated, this will seriously damage your home’s value and kerb appeal. Simply giving a new lick of paint in a trendy colour, putting some new plants in or investing in some new cladding are all ways of updating your home’s exterior.  

Being sensible and trendy is possible, and the best advice is to not go overboard. Modernise where you see fit but keep period features if you like them.

You’ve been neglecting maintenance 

This is a big one. Many of us neglect to do proper maintenance especially in homes we did not build ourselves, because vendors don’t tend to pass on the information the builders did, or they were not the original owners themselves.  

This is why it’s important to research what kind of maintenance your home and garden needs. That’s the first step towards recognising you may have been slacking in certain areas. Sometimes a quick wash is all that’s needed, and other times you’ll need to do some stripping and re-painting.  

If this hasn’t inspired you to go look at your home’s exterior, I don’t know what will! For those selling their house, this is extremely important. Take a long hard look at your house and the ones around it, and you’ll find little things you can do to improve your exterior appearance!