More often than not, we focus mainly on the interior of our home and neglect both the appearance and condition of our property’s exterior. Updating the exterior of a house is not always the simplest of tasks and can be a considerable monetary investment. However, it is necessary if you are looking to increase the value of your home, as by improving your home’s exterior, you will see a boost in your property’s saleability.
Preserving the condition of your home’s exterior is guaranteed to save you money in the long run. If you are looking to renovate on a budget, then we have compiled a list of just some of the ways you can still improve and enhance your house exterior.
Updating The Exterior Of A House On A Budget
Setting your budget before committing yourself to make any huge alterations to your home is essential. You need to work out to what extent you can afford to renovate your home; for example, several renovation projects are likely to cost considerably more than others. Luckily though, we have thought of a number of different ways to do so to suit all budgets.
If you aren’t sure on which projects to carry out first or which would be the most worthwhile, take a look at this home renovations calculator based on the current value of your home from Towergate Insurance. The list contains many improvements centred on the exterior of your property, so will help to decide what to concentrate on first. Take a look through our list of ideas, which will hopefully give you some ideas and set you off on the right path.
Replace The Doors
Replacing your front door will be one of the most noticeable developments when improving the exterior of your home; however, restoring other external doors can also have an impact. If you start by replacing your main door which is likely to be used and seen the most, you can then move onto replacing additional doors. You could consider having patio doors fitted into your home, especially if you use your garden regularly. French and bifold doors are also both great ways of increasing the amount of light that is let into your home.
When you are looking at purchasing new doors, it is always best to opt for quality rather than affordability. The more you spend on a good quality door, the more likely it is to last longer. You will also want to research the types of security features that the door you have chosen comes with. If you have young children or pets and you live on a busy road, then ensuring your door has a good quality multipoint locking system is essential. You will also need to look into the different types of material you can choose to have your door made from. uPVC is becoming increasingly more popular, but based on the style and age of your property, plastic doors may not suit your home. Alternatively, you could always look into the addition of a bespoke hardwood front door, guaranteed to last you years and provide aesthetically pleasing qualities. Having fitted many replacement doors over the years, we can confirm at how much difference a new door can make to the exterior of your property.
Clean or Replace Your Windows
One of these options is far cheaper than the other. Simply cleaning both the glass and the frames of your windows is an easy way of improving the condition and look of your windows. uPVC window frames are extremely straightforward to clean and can be massively improved following a quick tidy up.
However, wooden window frames can be more demanding when it comes to maintenance. It is suggested to either stain or re-paint the frames of your wooden windows once a year to preserve the condition of the wood. This is a time-consuming task but is rewarding in the end. If you are looking for a step by step process on how to successfully repaint or treat your current wooden window frames, take a read of this guide from DIY Doctor.
If, however, you feel your existing windows are slightly beyond cleaning or repair, then it may be worth investing in new windows altogether. This option provides you with the freedom to opt for a new design, size and material. You could also look into updating your current glazing situation. As specialists in double glazing in Milton Keynes, we know that updating your windows in this way can greatly improve the exterior of any building. As well as this, double glazed windows are guaranteed to improve the thermal efficiency of your home and will help to cut back on heating bills in the winter.
We have also replaced a vast amount of windows in Milton Keynes and enjoy helping clients transform the exterior of their homes, using a range of different styles and colours.
Restore Your Driveway
If your driveway is the first thing you come across when accessing your home, then it will contribute dramatically to the overall appearance of your home. It is therefore well worth maintaining the condition and presentation of your drive. Whether your driveway is made up of gravel or paving slabs, there are ways to improve the appearance or completely change the design should you fancy something different.
Homelogic have a helpful article on how to restore a gravel driveway, including filling in potholes, weeding regularly and keeping the gravel topped up. If your driveway is made from paving slabs, keeping them weed free and checking for any broken slabs is imperative in the upkeep of its appearance. Kingfisher have a wide range of cleaners and sealants, specifically designed for driveways. Always try and keep any outdoor paving as clean as possible, by washing them at regular intervals. Pressure washers are great at deep cleaning driveways and any other paved area.
If you have a garage, then it may be worth repainting the external door to inject some colour and improve the appearance of its exterior. As well as this, a fresh coat of paint will help to protect your garage against harsh weather and increase its lifespan. Real Homes have a great guide on how to paint a garage door, while What Paint list the best garage door paints available, along with their pros and cons.
Tend To Outdoor Areas
Whether you have a large front lawn, small patio or a single brick wall, it’s vitally important to keep all outdoor areas looking their best. Your property could look amazing, but if the spaces preceding it look unkempt and messy, your hard work will be wasted. Kerb appeal plays a huge part in the sale of a house, so this should be a top priority should your home be on the market.
It goes without saying that all gardened areas should be sufficiently tended to and always looking tidy. Try to weed regularly and plant flowers that look attractive. If you’re not keen on gardening, why not opt for easy to maintain potted plants or topiary plants; they not only look attractive but are easy to look after.
If you have view-obstructing trees or hedges that are starting to look overgrown, then it is worth doing something about this. Taking down large trees in front of your house will not only improve the appearance of your home’s exterior but will also help to increase the amount of natural light entering your front rooms. Bidvine have some great ideas on improving the appearance on your front garden, should you need any more inspiration.
Don’t Forget The Finishing Touches
While many of the tips on our list involve substantial investment, there are a number of smaller finishes you can make that will help to create a fantastic outward appearance.
- Name or Number – Why not buy a new number or name plaque to add to the outside of your property? It’s an inexpensive way to add a shiny, new, attractive feature, that will immediately welcome guests or prospective buyers. We love these modern and quirky designs from bali & boo – guaranteed to help your house stand out from the crowd.
- Lights – By installing lights, you’ll be adding to the welcoming factor; particularly during the evening. As with the number sign, new lights will add a lovely new finishing touch and can be installed around your door or along a path perhaps. These porch lights from lighting direct will fit with a multitude of property designs and should give you some great inspiration to be get started.
- Paving – Ever walked past a house a had path envy? While this might not apply to everyone, some houses utilise their path areas fantastically, in order to create a really attractive first impression to their home. Whether you’d like to replicate a Victorian mosaic design or a more modern aesthetic, why not look into sprucing your path up a little to improve the exterior appearance of your house.
Breathe New Life Into The Exterior Of Your Home
We hope these little tips and tricks, along with the slightly bigger ideas listed above have given you some inspiration on ways in which you can improve the exterior of your home. Whatever your budget, you should be able to implement at least some of these ideas and begin to improve the look of your property’s exterior.
We suggest starting off by making smaller alterations to your home and gradually increase the scale of renovations and changes you make. If you know anyone who is looking to sell their house or simply wanting to make some home improvements, why not share this article on social media and point them in the right direction.