5 DIY Curb Appeal Upgrades

Are you prepping your home for sale this summer? There are several easy, inexpensive things you can do to enhance the curb appeal of your home.

Establish crisp, clean garden edges. Clean lines make your yard appear tailored and tidy. You can carve an edge yourself with a shovel, a long-handled edger, or even an electric edger. Simply cut along the line you are defining and then pull up the cut grass. A 90-degree angle cut will provide a perfect edge for fresh mulch to sit against.
Apply a fresh layer of mulch to your beds. In terms of most ‘bang for your buck,’ this is it! Fresh mulch covers up pesky weeds and makes your edging work stand out even more. Plan to mulch shortly before your house is listed so that it looks its freshest.
Thin and prune back overgrowth. Trees and plants that are growing into each other can begin to make a yard look unkempt. You can thin out dead limbs, trim up the bottom branches, and prune back overgrowth to give each plant some shape. Your yard will appear tidy and manageable to potential home buyers.
Spruce up your containers. Plant colorful flowers in containers at the front door. It’s a nice touch for curb appeal and adds a splash of color for a more welcoming entrance.
Plant a tree. Trees add tremendous value to your home. A study published in the Journal of Landscape and Urban Planning found that homes planted between the sidewalk and street sold for more than $7,000 more than houses without those trees. You may consider privacy screens to hide unsightly views, shade trees to keep your home cool, or a nice deciduous tree to provide stunning fall color.