12 Curb Appeal Improvements Guaranteed to Increase the Value of Your Home

If there’s one thing we learned from watching old dandruff shampoo commercials, it’s that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. The exterior of your home is the first thing visitors – and potential buyers – lay eyes on, so make sure they like what they see with these small but significant improvements.

Bright yellow front door to a house with checkered stoop

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Paint Your Front Door (Estimated Cost: $100-$400)

When future scholars and historians study the Age of Instagram, brightly coloured doors will warrant their own PhD-level courses. Not only do they act as an aesthetically appealing focal point, but they also make neutral exteriors pop. And if you’re looking for a cute photo background, well… if you’ve got a boldly painted door, you’ve got #content.

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Invest in Stylish House Numbers (Estimated Cost: $50-$400)

Whether the old hardware is on the verge of falling off or you’re hankering for a more modern design, updating your house numbers is a quick and painless way to improve the overall look of a home’s entrance. Bonus: Eye-catching new numbers will make it easier for couriers to spot your casa and deliver the fruits of your online shopping labour.

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Update Outdoor Light Fixtures (Estimated Cost: $50-$400)

No offense to that rusty old bare bulb that’s been barely illuminating your front porch since the beginning of time, but let’s be real: You can do better. Upgrade your outdoor fixtures for a modern, cohesive look and you’ll be amazed to see your house in a whole new – wait for it – light.

Potted plants on the front porch of a house with red doors

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Add Planters to Your Porch (Estimated Cost: $40-$300)

A completely bare porch? Talk about unwelcoming. A little greenery goes a long way, and it’s as easy as buying a couple of planters to flank the front door. You can choose real or high-quality fake foliage, depending on the greenness of your thumb; just make whatever you plant is pretty and seasonal.

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Install a Shiny New Mailbox (Estimated Cost: $50-$250)

Who’s got mail? You’ve got mail! Or you will, at least, once your brand-new, ultra-chic mailbox has been set up. Neighbours won’t be able to resist sending secret-admirer-style notes when your exterior looks this good. Hey, any excuse to make a stylish splash.

A bright blue front door with yellow walls

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Install Window Boxes (Estimated Cost: $35-$250)

What looks adorable, is easy to set up and brings cheer to anyone who sees it? No, it’s not a new phone case – we’re talking about a good, old-fashioned window box. Head to your nearest garden centre or DIY one, if you’re handy, then fill with colourful flowers. Voila. Instant mood-lifter.

A decorative gate leading up to the front door of a house

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Add Decorative Gates or Fencing (Estimated Cost: $200-$3,000)

Anyone who read The Secret Garden as a child instinctively understands the appeal of intricately carved gates, garden doors and fences. Not only do they provide an element of privacy, but they also add a touch of magic – and you’re never too old to appreciate that.

A well-maintained flower garden in front of a house

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Plant a Flower Bed (Estimated Cost: $180-$2,000)

Adding curb appeal isn’t about having a perfect, professionally manicured lawn and garden (unless that’s your thing, in which case… you do you). For the rest of us, a few lovingly planted DIY flower beds will do just fine, particularly if they’re easy to maintain – they won’t scare off potential buyers who don’t have degrees in horticulture.

A blue house with a well-maintained front lawn

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Build a Walkway (Estimated Cost: $500-$2,000)

Dorothy may have followed the yellow brick road, but we’re partial to a timeless stone walkway. Gravel, poured concrete and interlocking pavers work, too. Whichever material you choose, just make sure the path is actually, you know, walkable. Any guests partial to high heels will thank you for it.

A large house with neutral paint colours

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Paint the Exterior of Your House (Average Cost: $2,500)

You’ll probably need to hire professionals for this job, but trust us when we say it’ll be worth every penny. Nothing gives a house a new lease on life like a fresh coat of paint. Choose a colour you’ll be happy to live with for a long time; your home’s exterior is not the place to experiment with neon yellow, no matter how trendy it is this spring.

A well-maintained house with lush green lawn

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Repair the Driveway (Estimated Cost: $2,500-$10,000)

You might be so accustomed to the cracks and potholes in your driveway that you don’t even see them, but potential buyers definitely will – and they won’t be impressed. Make any necessary repairs and get ready for those offers to start rolling in (or just enjoy the fact that your car tires can finally roll smoothly up and down the driveway).

A bungalow with a freshly-painted white front door

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Replace the Gutters (Estimated Cost: $1,000-$2,000)

Is there anything less sexy than talking about gutters? Maybe, but we don’t care to know. Broken or missing gutters are red flags to prospective buyers, and they can cause serious water damage to your home. If your gutters have seen better days, suck it up and replace them – then you can move onto sexier things.