| Add Curb Appeal Jul 22nd 2011, 10:00 Money is tight and time is short, but you don't have to skimp on beauty. Even shoe-string projects can make your home more inviting and boost your property value. The trick is to have fun, be creative, and be willing to get your hands a little dirty. Have you added curb appeal to your own home? Share your tips! 1. Paint the Front Door 
A bright red door adds pizazz to this farmhouse. Photo © Jackie CravenFor a home that makes a statement, turn the front door into an exclamation point. Bold red, yellow, and blue add pizazz to traditional Cape Cod and Ranch style houses. Older houses turn glamorous when natural oak doors are cleaned and revarnished. 2. Lay Pretty Pavement 
This curving brick walkway is an inviting entrance. Photo (cc) Flickr Member "RealEstateZebra"Forget the boring slabs of gray concrete. For a warm and welcoming entry to your home, build a walkway and patio with brick or paving stones. 3. Dramatize the Details 
Bright red accents bring out the details on this Victorian dormer. Photo © Jackie CravenEven the most modest house has something to boast about. Use contrasting colors to draw attention to eaves, brackets, shutters, moldings, or other interesting details. Don't forget the window sashes! (Yes, you can paint vinyl and aluminum window frames. Just be sure to sand them first.) 4. Build a Better Porch 
Adding a porch gave this Ranch Style House a bold new look. Photo © Jackie CravenA new or remodeled porch will give your house a brand new face. For a welcoming accent, build a small entry porch. To transform your house, build a porch that extends across the entire facade. 5. Add Flower Power 
Pots of hanging flowers add color to this house. Photo (cc) Flickr Member "Khrungy"Flowers can help even the most ordinary house stand apart from look-alike neighbors. For quick color, fill planters, window boxes, and hanging pots with inexpensive annuals. 6. Turn Trash Into Treasures 
Colored bottles were used to make a playful bottle tree. Photo © Jackie CravenBrowse flea markets and and architectural salvage centers and you can find just the right accents to make your home unique. Replace conventional hardware with antique door knobs and door knockers. Turn old wrought iron gates into decorative screens and wall hangings. Make mailboxes and lawn ornaments out of discarded corbels, columns, and other architectural salvage. (Just be careful that you don't overdo.) 7. Strip Off Old Vinyl 
Vinyl siding used to cover the charm of this Victorian cottage. Photo © Jackie CravenDoes your old house have vinyl siding? You don't have to live with vinyl that's faded, cracked, or just plain blah. Peel off a corner in a hidden spot. With luck you'll find intact clapboards underneath. Strip off the ratty vinyl, scrape, and paint. Yes, it's a messy job, but restoring your home will cost less than installing all new siding. Then, watch your property values go up. 8. Plant Vines 
Vines cover this house in Hinton St. George, England. Photo (cc) Flickr Member Damien SmithFrank Lloyd Wright is famous for saying "A doctor can bury his mistakes but an architect can only advise his clients to plant vines." He may have been joking, but vines really can cover a lot of sins. To protect wood and mortar, give your vines strings, wires, or a trellis to climb.   | |
