9 Exterior Updates That are Totally Worth the Cost

Updating and upgrading your home’s façade can be a good way of increasing its value and improving the way that it looks; however, unless you have experience in exterior design however, you will likely have trouble determining exactly what upgrades you should make.

Despite how confusing it might seem at first when you know what you are doing adding to your home’s façade will be a walk in the park. This post will cover this topic in more detail, telling you everything you need to know about updating the outside of your house:

1. Building Decking

One effective way of adding value to your property is to build decking. You don’t have to spend a lot on decking as you can buy composite decking boards instead of wooden ones. Wooden decking can cost a small fortune. When building decking you may need to request a building permit depending on where you live. Some states have strict regulations about extensions and additional structures. Consider building multi-leveled decking as that can add the most value to your home, giving future owners a platform to stand on and enjoy the view surrounding your house.

2. Repainting Façade

The façade of your house is likely worn out and tired; most people’s are. Not a lot of people repaint their houses when the paint becomes distressed mostly because of how much work needs to go into painting. You can either repaint your house yourself or hire somebody to do it for you. The latter is a more suitable option for individuals who’re under time constraints or simply don’t like painting. Pick a sunny day to paint as if it rains all of your work could be washed away.

3. Weatherproofing

The kind of weatherproofing you need to apply depends largely upon what kind of house you live in; a house that’s built using bricks won’t need the same kind of weatherproofing as one that has been made from wood. The best way to figure out which weatherproofing’s suitable for your home is to reach out to a professional and ask for their help. You won’t be able to add weatherproofing to your house yourself anyway – a professional’s help will be needed.

Weatherproofing your house and protecting it against storms, heatwaves and adverse weather can add a lot of value to it.

4. Landscaping Yard

How does your backyard look? If it’s just a simple lawn without charm or character then consider landscaping your backyard. Adding flowers, trees, and other plants can improve its aesthetic appeal significantly. When buyers are viewing houses one of the first things they want to see are properties’ backyards. Nobody wants to buy a house with a rubbish backyard. Landscaping yours so that it looks more beautiful can be a good way of boosting the value of your house and ensuring interest when the time comes to list it on the market. A good garden can actually be a selling point.

5. Erecting Fences

A lot of people’s backyards do not have fences around them, especially in rural areas; some people leave their yards open. However, not marking the boundary of your property can cause problems in the future. A new neighbor might move in and might decide that some of your land belongs to them, for example. Adding a fence that marks the perimeter of your backyard will prevent this from happening and can also keep pests out, preventing deer, bears, and raccoons from getting in. Fenced backyards are much more private and therefore nicer places to spend your time.

6. Utility Shed

Does your house have enough land for a utility shed? If the answer’s yes then build one; a utility shed can add thousands to the value of your house. These sheds are widely available and can be purchased in ready-to-assemble kits. Most cost no more than a few hundred dollars. A utility shed gives future buyers the opportunity to store things outside. Having one is especially important if your house does not have a garage as there will be nowhere for people to store their belongings. Utility sheds are easy to build and are a great option for people interested in selling up.

7. Summer House

Another external structure that you can build (without a building permit we might add) is a summer house. Summer houses don’t take up a lot of room but add immense value to houses whose yards they are built in. Summer houses are just like big sheds except rather than storage, they are built as a place for people to relax on long summer days. Summer houses are a little trickier to build as they are often made almost entirely out of glass and sturdy wood like oak. Because of the materials that go into their construction, they are also expensive.

8. New Windows

What are the windows on your house like? Odds are they are standard uPVC double-glazed windows that were there when you moved in. Upgrading your windows can change your home’s entire dynamic and look. Properties built in the last ten years can be made to look a century old by simply adding sash windows. Sash windows are popular, widely available, and very attractive. They can be expensive to install due to their complexity and the high quality of the materials that go into making them but they will add at least ten thousand dollars to the value of your house.

9. External Shutters

Along with sash windows, build external shutters. External shutters can come in very handy when you have sash windows. They are wooden shutters built on the outside of your house. When people want to close them they use a stick to hook them and draw them in. External shutters can technically be built independently without a professional’s help although experts advise hiring one just so you can ensure the job’s done properly. Attempting to perform upgrades on the outside of your house yourself is not always the best idea.

Any damage you cause won’t be covered by your insurer. If a contractor makes mistakes then as part of their contract they will have to make repairs; you have no such protections if you damage your house during work.

Making upgrades to your house can add value to it. If you do not make any then when you do decide to sell in the future, you could end up selling for less than you paid. Experts predict the housing market’s about to take a nosedive so there’s never been a better time to prop up your home and ensure it sells for more. If you are going to make changes to its exterior then do your research and ensure the ones you are making are desirable to buyers at the time you make them.