Are you intending to sell your GTA home? If you’re looking for ways to boost the value of your home, consider updating the exterior. Many house sales falter before prospective buyers even get in the door. A contemporary house exterior can help you greatly increase curb appeal and the resale value of your home.

 

 

Whether your home’s exterior is old-fashioned or just needs some care and attention, a professional design-build firm can assess your situation and make recommendations. Over the years, you’ve been living at your current address, you’ve gotten accustomed to the way your home’s exterior looks; you probably haven’t really taken stock of it in a long time. A professional will be able to tell you what an average buyer wants to see and can provide you with solid advice.

 

No matter what year your house was built, it will reflect the building styles of the era. In some cases, this is a good thing – a house that’s over a hundred years old, for example, may have a classic look that is in demand. A century home that has been properly maintained may need only cleaning or sprucing up. However, most older houses need to eliminate outdated style elements and update features, materials, colour palette and overall design.

 

Some common problems include:

• Peeling, or faded paint or siding
• Outdated design elements such as small windows
• Roof in poor repair
• Dated colour palette of paint or brickwork
• Dingy or damaged eavestroughs
• Porch that looks makeshift
• A door that is unwelcoming
• Single car garage
• Pebbled stucco finish
• Cracked steps
• Outdated sconces or light fixtures
• Vinyl shutters
• Any element that looks "fussy” or overly ornate

Today’s exterior home designs feature simple forms and geometric lines in materials such as natural wood, glass and steel. A hallmark of contemporary home exterior design is natural light – so most exteriors include large windows or glass walls or doors. Palettes tend to incorporate natural wood with metal, stark black or white, or subtle neutrals with occasional splashes of vivid colour. Homes in natural settings can take colour cues from their surroundings.

 

 

Another aspect that makes a tremendous difference to the exterior appearance of your home is landscaping, or the lack thereof. Landscaping design should be integrated with the home’s exterior in a fundamental way. The front yard should be free from elements like:

• Overgrown bushes
• Trees with dead limbs
• Patchy lawns
• Lattice walls
• Clutter
• Lawn ornaments

Floating decks, courtyards, paths that wind through no-mow front yards, arbours and outside structures such as hot tubs, pools and gazebos should be designed and placed to complement the home. Contemporary landscape design seeks to wed outdoor spaces with the house’s architecture.

 

By investing in the exterior appearance of your home, you will greatly increase its value. Prospective buyers will be drawn in to see more.

 

Call a design-build firm today. Make sure your home makes a good first impression!