Cultivate Curb Appeal

They say home is where the heart is, but during the summer months, the fun is had outdoors.

Curb appeal is a major factor in a home, and whether you just bought your house and are looking to make your yard your own, or you are trying to sell your home, a few flowers and a trim to the grass can really add value. 

If you are looking to spend some time outdoors and add to your home, check out our list of summer tips and tricks that you can use to cultivate some curb appeal.

Entryway Enhancement

You're sure to be welcoming guests this summer, but what first impression is your home making? If your front door and porch are drab and dreary, your home may not look too inviting, regardless of what fabulous party you have planned inside!

Fixing your front entrance can be a quick and easy improvement that can make a dramatic impression.

Consider adding a new coat of paint to the front door, one that contrasts the rest of the exterior of the home. If you're house and shutters are black and gray, a bright red door can really draw the eye and attract attention.

Add metal house numbers near your front door, and consider replacing or adding a new light treatment to the entryway to make it look warm and inviting.

A few pots filled with colorful flowers can add appeal, and soon your entryway will be welcoming guests all on its own.

Flowers and Blooms

Summer is the season of bright colors and fun, and you don't want your house to be the only one on the block without some color. To add some flair, try some flowering shrubs in your yard that will bloom in the summer months.

Crape Myrtles can provide a great pop of white, purple, pink, or red to your yard, and the trees flourish in the Georgia heat and humidity. In winter, their smooth bark will peel away to reveal colors of brown, tan and gray, adding further appeal to your yard, and they are easy to take care of.

For another Southern staple, plant a few hydrangeas. These green leafy shrubs will bloom pink or blue, depending on the toxicity of the soil, so if you're really adventurous, you can try a bit of a science experiment to bring a new color to your yard. With big, fluffy blooms, these shrubs are relatively easy to care of and can provide a nice bouquet for you to bring indoors.

Of course, for quick and easy summer sprucing, add some annuals like petunias, cosmos, and zinnias to bring an array of color to your summer flower beds.

Window Treatment

Just like you front door, windows can either be an eye-catcher, or an eye-sore. To make sure they are drawing the right attention, it's important to give your windows a little TLC.

Start with simply cleaning them, both inside and out, and be sure to wash off any dirt on the exterior windowsills and surrounding areas.

If you have shutters, be sure to clean those as well, and if you're really adventurous, consider adding them to your home if you have space to enhance contrast and add another dimension.

For a simple upgrade, add window boxes with summer annuals to bring the fun from your yard to your home in a quick and easy way.

Trees and Greenery

Summer color is great, but it's also important to add some green that will last throughout the season.

In shaded areas, Japanese Maple trees provide a great feature and their dark, red leaves will add to the shades of the season in the fall.

Dogwoods can also be a manageable tree that can provide some shade and some green to your yard. With white flowers that bloom in the summer, this tree is a great option for Georgia homeowners.

For more low-to-the-ground green, try a few perennial hostas. There are a great variety of these plants, with some having small, lime-green leaves, to others with large, dark blue-green leaves that spread wide. Easy to maintain, these spots of green will return every year.

Maintenance, Maintenance

Last but not least, it's important to maintain your outdoor space.

Even if you don't have flower beds filled with color, a simple manicured lawn and a swept off porch and driveway can make a big difference.

Cut back long and leggy limbs of trees that may get in the way or are blocking your home, and while it may sound like a no-brainer, don't forget to mow the lawn!

By applying just a few of these tricks, curb appeal can be vastly improved, which will add a great deal of value to your home, and a great deal of fun to your outdoor space! So get outside, enjoy this weather, and show off your home's beautiful facade!

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Perrie & Associates, LLC is a full-service law firm centered around real estate property. We strive to provide big firm expertise with small firm concern for your interests. We are committed to focusing our legal expertise to provide you with the highest quality services in a timely and cost efficient manner. The attorneys and team members of our firm take great pride in providing the right solutions to our clients' needs. Give us a call to schedule a closing or for legal consultation!