Four Ways to Look After the Outside of Your Home

By Olivia Parkinson

It's easy to neglect the exterior of the home when our attention is directed most often to the interior. But when you realize how great it is to sit outside in the summer or beginning of fall when it's nice outside, you start to expand your vision. This is the place where the first impression of your home is made, and it's where you can enjoy it, too. That is why you should consider treating your home's exterior just as attentively as you do to the inside.

Here are a few areas to pay attention to that will help give your exterior home a lift:

1. A Warm Welcome

In order to make sure that your home has a good first impression on people, take good care of your front door. Keeping this place tidy and clean means taking a few moments to make it presentable at all times. It is worth considering repainting your door or even replacing it if it has seen better days, especially if it looks or sounds like it might be in need of replacement. You should also ensure that the number or name on your door is clearly displayed so that it can be easily identified from the road or sidewalk.

2. Make a Great First Impression

Your front garden is often the first thing people notice when they look at your home. Curb appeal is important because it lets others know that you have taken good care of your house. When you are trying to impress potential buyers, it's especially important to not have a cluttered, disorganized, or messy front yard. Make sure to clean and maintain the areas around walkways, keep the lawns mowed and the hedges trimmed. If you use a power hose to clean your walkways, they'll look like new.

3. Your Roof

Several factors need to be taken into consideration when caring for your home. The gutters should be cleaned regularly, drains cleaned seasonally, and chipped areas should be repainted. It is important to remember to clean and maintain your roof as well, when it's time to paint it or replace the shingles. If you have any concerns, resolve them as soon as possible. If left unattended, small leaks or loose tiles can lead to further damage. Your roof should not be neglected when considering your exterior. Unfortunately, too many times it goes unnoticed until something goes wrong. When necessary, clean your roof, and even consider roof restoration when needed.

4. Space to Relax Outside

When the weather is nice, it's easy to enjoy the back garden. You can serve dinner al fresco and entertain family and friends. A relaxing and enjoyable garden is essential, though. Imagine your outdoor living area as a representation of your family, and find ways to make it as easy to maintain as possible, and as welcoming as possible. A part of this is ensuring it’s free of bugs, mosquitoes and pests, so arrange tick control so your outdoor space can be enjoyed. Children should have their own area in the garden as well, to play and plant; this way, they are more inclined to leave rest of the yard for the adults to enjoy. Make sure to include a seating area outside as well, so that one can enjoy the beauty of nature while resting.

The exterior of your house is just as important to maintain as the inside. Whether owning or renting, you can make your home welcoming and keep it in good shape. If you have any additional thoughts or ideas, we'd love to hear them in the comments section below!