Luckily, winter curb appeal is a lot easier to perfect than summer curb appeal. With the lawn mower and garden shears safely stored in the shed for the winter, it’s time to dust off the shovel and broom and take them for a spin around your property.
It is imperative that your driveway walks and steps are always perfectly shoveled and broomed when you are showing your home. Not just because it shows the sound nature of your concrete work, but also because it keeps those potential buyers safe. The last thing you need when you’re packing boxes and dreaming of your new home is lawsuit on your hands. Not only does it keep you free of litigation, it also says a lot about the type of homeowner you are: neat, tidy, and on-the-ball. This is the type of impression we want to leave with buyers. It puts them in a good mood before they even pass through your threshold. Walking through wet snow and having it close in on a buyer’s feet before they even come in, gives them a feeling of disorganized annoyance, and that’s the attitude that they’ll have as they begin to survey your home.
Christmas lights are always nice to have, but also need to be extremely neat and tidy. No big, huge flashing light displays are welcome here. Keep your arrangement simple and classic. We’re looking to highlight the home, not overpower it. You are allowed to have Christmas lights on your home anywhere between November 15- January 5th. If you’re selling anytime outside of those dates, the lights have got to come down.
Being that it gets darker earlier, it may be wise to illuminate your walkway with solar lights, so buyers can easily make their way to the door. Also, don’t forget to turn on your outdoor lights for every showing, so that buyers can easily see your exterior and make their way safely to your front door.
Just because it's cold doesn't mean it's time to stop maintaining the front of your house. Winter curb appeal can take on its own delightful characteristics; you just need to know what you're doing and be deliberate about it.
Tidy up. First thing's first: That pile of boots at your door and the snow-covered toys laying around the front yard need to go. Then rake up pine needles, branches and other debris. Clean up and cut back any dead flowers in the garden beds. Wash your front-facing windows and sweep the porch. This quick cleanup will immediately freshen up the look of your home and get you ready to take on some of the more fun winter facelift projects.
Paint your front door. A fresh coat of paint in a color that contrasts well with the changing tones of each season will ensure your home's best lasting impression. Some recommendations are red, burgundy and plum hues. The use of color helps to create interest, and stresses how important it is during these dark months when all gardens and greens have been cut back, covered or have lost their leaves.
Decorate and accessorize. Hang a wreath or other decorative addition on your front door. A wreath is fitting decor any time of year, a long as you dress it up differently depending on the season. We suggest that you highlight it with warm rusts, golds, browns and greens. You can take a simple wreath, spray paint it metallic and add a brightly colored ribbon for a striking front door.
Paint your fence. The fence should be the same color as your home's siding. This helps the fence blend in with the house's setting instead of stealing the focus.
Utilize outdoor lighting. Lighting is always important, but it is even more crucial on dark winter nights. Landscape lighting is practical, as it extends the use of your front yard into into the evening hours, and allows for safe passage for you and your guests. It is also a very purposeful design choice. New LED lighting focused on some of your front garden accents can significantly change your home's evening appeal. The right lighting will make your house a warm gem that stands apart from the others on chilly winter evenings.
Use pots and planters. Place pots and planters near the front door to create a welcoming entry. Landscape designs are anchored by focal points. An easy and fast way to add an element of focus to a front door is to frame it with symmetrically placed planters and deliberately chosen plants. We suggest a pair of cast stone or Italian Terra Cotta urns planted with an upright evergreen shrub. The Graham Blandy Boxwood, and other year round covers including variegated English and Glacier are all lovely choices. Colorful pots with winter blooms will also significantly change your curb appeal, adding a splash of color.
Creative alternatives to add character, baskets, galvanized buckets, and barrels all make interesting alternatives. We suggest adding willow branches, evergreen arrangements, branches with colorful leaves, and gourds creating your own arrangement.
Frame your garden. Use clean and attractive borders. From one of our sources they say "landscape borders play an important role in a home's curb appeal -- whether we're talking about the whole yard or just a planting bed; a defined area catches the eye more readily than one that is indistinguishable." Various curbing materials such as concrete, brick, stone and slate add definition to your garden area and help it look tidy even in the winter months.
Mix up the hardware. Giant transformations from minor hardware changes aren't just for kitchens and bathrooms, the front of your house can use a hardware makeover too. A rubbed bronze door knob, a glossy black mailbox, or decorative house numbers are quick ways to freshen up your look.
Keep your home's character intact. Remember that interesting sculptures, benches, yard ornaments and other creative touches add personality and increase your curb appeal (providing that they are tastefully done).
Be a good neighbor and shovel your walk. Even the most beautiful home will make a poor impression if it looks like you're careless about your neighbor's comfort and safety.
Checking your curb appeal for winter is a much easier task than creating curb appeal for summer, but unlike the summer months, it may require some extra time in shoveling after every single snow fall. So snowsuit-up and get shoveling!
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