It’s official! BBQ’s, backyards, and bikinis mean the weather is hot and its time to
live outdoors again. While Bermuda has year round “warm” weather there is something extra special about our summer months. Filled with sunshine, friends, and relaxation
this is the time of year to embrace and have fun outdoors.
Dust off the patio furniture, clean the pool and get your outdoor spaces set up for fun & entertaining again. Create an environment that can offer you a retreat of relaxation or set your space up as the social hub for friends and family. Whatever your needs don’t just settle for an awesome interior, love your outdoor space as much as you love inside.
Homes come in all shapes and sizes but one thing we can agree on is that the curb appeal of a home is a big factor to a prospective buyer. The term “curb appeal” derives from real estate sales and home design. For years, buyers have formed their first impressions of homes while standing in the street or sitting inside the car, just beyond the curb. For Bermudians especially, where outdoor spaces can be used year round, exterior areas are truly where a house shines.
Curb Appeal Matters.
The attractiveness of a home’s exterior can make or break a deal with potential buyers. But it’s not just the driveway that’s important, the condition of your front yard, entry area, lawn areas and sidewalks will color the impression of everything else a potential buyer sees during a visit. Homes with great curb appeal usually command higher prices and spend less time on the market. Luckily there are simple, inexpensive ways to help your home impress.
Mow the Lawn
It’s hard to stay on top of mowing when the weather warms up, but a mangy lawn riddled with dandelions won’t make your home attractive. A neatly manicured yard demonstrates that you’ve taken good care of the house during your tenure as its owner; an unkempt lawn and garden suggest that you haven’t bothered with upkeep over the years.
Landscaping
Consider flanking your front door with trees or shrubs or a pop of color by placing flower planters on your stoop. For those homes with smaller lawn areas, window boxes are a classic choice that will add colour and instant curb appeal.
Laying plants of different heights and textures in front of your front door is a great way to boost your home’s appeal, and a great option for renters as well as those who don’t have a yard.
Clean It Up
Walk around the outside of your house and take note of what looks dirty. Parts of your house that may get grimy over time include: windows, downspouts, gutters, porches, decks and garage doors. These can usually be tackled with soapy water and a scrub brush. For a bigger job, consider using a pressure washer.
Paint
Like your interior, updating the colour of your home along with the trim, doors and shutters can help your home look enticing to buyers. Try painting your front door and trim with bold colors to make a modern statement. For the rest? When in doubt, take a cue from the neighbors. What colors are common on your street? In a selling situation, it’s typically better to fit in than stand out.
Replace Hardware
Don’t overlook your house numbers, entry door locksets, doorbells, mailboxes, or light fixtures. These elements add visual interest, but can detract from your home’s appeal after they show years of wear. Replace, clean, or paint pieces that have become dingy or out-of-date.
Decorate Your Home
Do you put up seasonal wreaths? A flag? Is your outdoor area set up and staged to look inviting? Curb appeal can sometimes involve decorating your home as well. Consider staging the exterior of your home when you’re staging the interior as well.
Make a Statement
Show a little of your personality by utilizing a distinctive mailbox or showing your house numbers in an interesting way. Or try incorporating outdoor art with some tasteful features, such as beautifully arranged rocks, a sculpture, or wind chimes.
Install Landscape Lighting
Outdoor landscape lights lining a sidewalk or driveway provide safety and security, but they can also have big impact on your yard’s appearance. Extra lighting can also act as added safety for walking around at night and security.
Fix the Driveway
Cracked asphalt is not doing you any favors. Fill cracks with asphalt patch and coat the surface with blacktop refinishing compound.
Hide Your Trash Bins
Everybody needs trash bins, but nobody likes to look at them. Store them in your garage or hide them behind a fence or enclosure.
