Your home is likely a point of pride for you. After all, as a homeowner, you’re living a pretty significant part of the American Dream. It’s only natural to want to bring out all that potential in your home and make it as good as you can, maybe even the best on the block. So what are some things you can do to really make your home stand out in the best way possible?
Paint It to Stand Out
One of the things you can do to make your home stand out is to give it a fresh coat of paint. This could be as involved as repainting the entirety of your home’s exterior, or simply repainting the front door. Choosing a new trim color is also an option that you can use to give your home a bit of extra flair. Repainting your door and trim can be a great option if your home’s exterior surface is made from something that may be better left unpainted such as rock. Before you get started on your painting project, make sure you are in compliance with any HOA requirements if they apply to you. You don’t want to get started or finish only to find out that you’re out of compliance and subject to fees.
Landscape It
Landscaping can give your home a whole new look and feel. What landscaping works best for your property may depend on the size of the land you have to work with. If you have a small yard, adding hills probably isn’t a good use of space. If you have a larger yard, you can explore more creative landscaping options. Landscaping can also double as protection for your house. By arranging your landscaping in such a way that it slopes away from your house, you reduce the chances of water pooling and soaking into the ground near your house and causing damage.
Remodel to Fit a Unique Style
Unique styles can add interest and intrigue to a home. If you have an awesome idea for altering your home’s floor plan to fit a unique style or layout, a remodel might be in your future. This can keep things engaging for both you and any guests you may have over. If you have a more closed floor plan you might try opening it up more. Just make sure you know which walls are load bearing walls and need to stay to maintain your home’s structural integrity before you start knocking them down. If it’s more open than you want, you might try adding some partitions. You don’t even have to close off entire portions. Even a partial partition can be enough to break up a space while maintaining a semblance of an open floor plan.
Build a Deck
If you don’t have a deck added to your home already, consider building one. A deck can be a great addition to a home, providing you with space to entertain, relax, or even engage in some outdoor cooking. You can adorn your deck with many features that make it the perfect gathering place for friends and family. To keep your deck in good condition, clean it frequently and treat it to prevent damage from water or pests. If you live in an area that is prone to wet or cold, you’ll want to take considerations for your deck furniture as well.
Maintain the Yard
Properly maintaining your yard is a great way to keep your home looking attractive. Few things add to a home’s curb appeal like a well-manicured lawn with strategically planted plant life. Maintaining a yard goes beyond just mowing it properly. Good watering and fertilizing practices can go a long way towards keeping a lush, green lawn. Aerating it periodically helps oxygenate the soil too. When deciding what plants to add, consider factors like the height of the plants, what season they look best in, color arrangements, and the overall balance of the space.
Add Solar Panels
Adding solar panels to your house is more for your personal benefit and how you view the value of your house than anything else, though it does tend to increase your home’s market value too. This is a great thing to do if you have a desire to have a positive impact on the environment and want to save some money on energy bills. Of course, if you have a skylight or a roof made from slate or cedar tiles you might not be able to have them installed on your roof due to the added difficulty. Ground-mounted panels are an alternative option you can explore if you still want to use solar power.
Upgrade Appliances
Upgrading your appliances won’t make your home look cooler from the outside, but from the inside it can make quite a difference. Newer appliances are more likely to have more cutting edge technology and may be more energy efficient. You can also choose appliances that fit in better with the look of your home. If you want a more industrial look, appliances with a stainless steel finish might be a good option. There’s also a black stainless steel finish if you’re looking for something a bit more unique. If you prefer a more integrated look and don’t mind spending more, you can add customized paneled doors that will help your appliances blend in with the rest of your kitchen.
Perform Regular Maintenance
Of course, one of the best things you can do to make sure your home stays the best on the block is to perform regular maintenance. Regular home maintenance keeps your home in good repair and helps prevent extensive damage that can result in costly repairs. Keeping a regular home maintenance schedule will help you make sure you don’t miss something. It will also help you keep the list of tasks needing to be done to a manageable level.
Bringing out the potential in your house and making it as good as you can is a wonderful thing for a homeowner to do. There are a lot of ways you can do this, depending on your taste and style, though some are just a regular part of being a good homeowner. Explore your options and apply those that work best for you and your situation.
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