Curb appeal on a budget

[thohome]

Here are 10 low budget ideas to add curb appeal to your home. And anyone can do it themselves that is the beauty in it. Self satifaction and beautifing your out side.

Celebrity designer Chayse Dacoda from the hit TLC home improvement series, "While You Were Out" has built her reputation on helping homeowners refresh worn-out spaces. Here are her suggestions for minor cosmetic changes that yield big impact on a home's exterior appearance on a not-so-extreme budget.



top ten things you can do to add "curb appeal"

Paint your house! This may be an obvious one, so I have to get it out of the way first. Even so, not enough people do it. Most houses need it anyway. Go crazy, do what you have always wanted. Many tones of the same hue can really add dimension to the house. And remember, decorative moldings on older houses give license to use more than one color. Good prep work, like sanding off worn and chipping areas and priming, can make an exterior paint job last a lot longer and look better.


Change out-dated light fixtures -- or add lights if you don't have some already. Light up your doorways and walkways. Better to have more lights at lower wattages than one, very bright one.


Add landscaping. Consult your local nursery for plants and shrubs that work best in your area. If you're an urban dweller, don't let cement stop you -- add potted planters. The right landscaping around a property will make all the difference in the world.


Replace a worn-out garage door with a new, decorative model. This will have a big impact especially if you have a front-facing garage. Manufacturers offer many designs and decorative accessories so it's easy to find a door that will complement the architecture of your home.


Illuminate your landscape. This will completely change the look of your property at night. Angle low lights to point up at trees and bushes and point down along a pathway for safety. Keep it simple. Use solar lights that charge during the day and you won't have to run wires.

5 more Curb appeal ideas
by Chayse Dacoda
http://www.friendlyplumber.com/plumb...pealideas.html

I love the look of solar lighting up a side walk in the evening hours. Not to mention it lights your way to the door without the expense of electricity.

[flippinout]

Yes, there are a lot of things you can do yourself to make your home more appealing. And most of them are very simple, easy fixes.

Just painting a door and adding a plant on the porch can make for a totally different look. And all of the above can be done by the owner which is a big plus and money saving at that.

[missmanors]

These are great ideas, and many of them can be done by almost anyone...no expertise necessary. I think one of the most obvious things to make any home more attractive, is just to take a walk around the yard and clear away clutter. Sometimes a person has things in the yard that they've had for years and doesn't notice anymore... perhaps a yard ornament that has seen better days or a broken planter. These are unsightly, but ignored because 'they've always been there.' Just look around with a brand new eye and the results can be amazing!!