You’ve probably heard the expression, “you never get a second chance to make a first impression.” Well, when it comes to your home’s exterior, that’s true. You want your house to look its best at all times, but it is essential if you’re trying to sell it or rent it out. The median age of houses in the US is 37 years, and therefore they need regular maintenance to be ab able to appeal to the buyer.
If cracks in the paint or weeds grow up around your foundation, potential buyers and renters will think less of your property and aren’t likely to even consider buying or renting from you. So how can you keep your house clean and tidy so people will think highly of it? Well, here are some tips:
Clean the Gutters Regularly
Gutter cleaning is an essential part of keeping your home looking great. It would help if you had your gutters cleaned once per year. To do this, you’ll need to clean them after a rainstorm or heavy snowfall and any time you notice blockages or leaks.
If you don’t keep up with regular gutter cleaning, you may find that your gutters are clogged with leaves and other debris, which can cause water damage inside the walls of your house. It can lead to mold growth and is unpleasant for everyone who lives in the house.
Install Fascia Boards
Fascia boards are horizontal boards that run along the sides of your house to protect it from water damage. A fascia board also helps improve the appearance of your home by allowing you to use different materials and colors. You can choose between wood, metal, or PVC fascia boards depending on what fits in with your style and budget.
It’s essential to install them correctly, so they don’t rot or fall off later on. The best way is using nails or screws instead of glue because this will make maintenance much easier down the line if something needs fixing/replacing/painting, etc.
Give the Exterior of Your House a Fresh Coat of Paint
Paint is the most affordable way to give your home a facelift. With a fresh coat of paint, you can make your home look brighter and more inviting, increasing sales value. Paint is also an investment and if you plan on selling your property within two years or so, consider getting someone else to do it for free. It’s an easy way to boost curb appeal.
Painting the exterior of your home can also reduce energy costs, especially when painting the roof. A white or light-colored roof reflects heat and helps keep cool air during summer. In winter, white or light-colored roofs will reflect heat from the sun away from your house to help maintain warmth inside. The US states with the highest energy bills, like Hawaii, with an average electricity bill of $236.76, can benefit from this tip.
Maintain Your Driveway
Keeping your driveway clean is essential to maintaining your home’s look. As leaves fall and accumulate over time, they can cause moss to grow there. It makes it harder to keep your driveway looking clean, and it increases the likelihood that debris will collect around the edges of the lawn.
To maintain a clean driveway:
- Use a leaf blower or a hose to remove dead leaves from their surface.
- If there are stains on your concrete driveways, use a pressure washer to remove them before applying any sealant so that the sealant does not get stained.
- Sweep away any debris left around the edges of your lawn with a broom so that you don’t track it back into your house when you go in or out.
Protect Your Flooring
Protecting your flooring is a simple step to ensure it stays in good condition and looks new. To do this, you need first to keep it clean and dry. It means regular cleaning schedules for your carpets and regularly dusting or vacuuming hard surfaces.
For hard surface floors (such as tile), using a professional carpet cleaning service every six months is recommended by many experts to maintain their shine without dulling over time due to daily wear-and-tear caused by foot traffic across them throughout each day.
Keep the Grass Cut and Tidy Outside Your Home
You can also create a nice look for your house with the grass you have by keeping it cut short and tidy. It is one of the most basic things you can do, but if you don’t regularly, your lawn will become overgrown and scraggly looking.
To keep your grass looking great, you should mow it regularly. Once every two weeks is usually sufficient, depending on how much rain there has been in between cuts. When mowing, ensure all clippings go into a compost heap or mulched up, so they don’t litter the ground with unsightly brown patches.
If weeds grow near your home or driveway, consider using weed killer to get rid of them before they take over.
Remove Any Weeds That You See Immediately
In the same vein, weeds are a sign of neglect. If you let them go, they will grow and take over your lawn, hurting its overall appearance. Not only that, but they can also attract pests like ticks to your property, who may then spread disease to you or your pets. You don’t want that.
If you see any weeds growing on or around your house (or if there are already some in the yard), remove them immediately before they become established. To make things easier for yourself next time, try keeping a weed whacker handy, so you can get rid of any rogue plants as soon as they start sprouting up around your property.
Regular Maintenance Saves Cost in the Long Run
Landscaping costs start from as low as $50 and can go up to &$7,000. Regular maintenance will help you save money in the long run. You can sell a well-maintained home for more money than a neglected home. You will also pay less for insurance on a well-maintained home and have fewer repairs to make when something goes wrong. Additionally, your utility bills will likely be lower if you regularly tend to your exterior and interior.
The exterior of your house is one of the essential aspects of maintaining its value. Ensure that you take care of every aspect of your home and any external areas like gardens and driveways. Doing so will help keep your home looking great and make it more appealing to potential buyers if you ever decide to sell it later down the line.
Ava Clarkson
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