The Surprising Truth About Curb Appeal

As a homeowner, what impresses you about your neighbor’s home? Their landscaping, advanced features, lighting, the color scheme of the home and roof? This first impression a home makes on potential buyers is its house curb appeal. This includes how well maintained the exterior looks, and can affect how welcoming the interior feels. Even if you are not considering selling your home anytime soon, paying attention to your home’s curb appeal will help you in the future. A house with curb appeal affects your home’s property value, and an appealing neighborhood makes for a welcoming neighborhood. Lifetime Quality Roofing (headquartered in Columbus, Ohio) understands this, and wants to help you make your home the best that it can be.

What is Curb Appeal Pressure?

Knowing that curb appeal affects a home’s value seems to create an interesting dynamic between neighbors. Perhaps you are familiar with movies such as Keeping Up With the Joneses or Deck the Halls. Each film depicts a neighborhood rivalry involving the idea of a “perfect” home. Each neighbor wants to outdo the other in order to be named the best in the neighborhood. According to the New York Post, neighborhood rivalries are alive and thriving.

Along with these rivalries comes peer pressure. When one neighbor appears to be sprucing up their home, then others may feel the need to do the same. One local homeowner in Columbus, Ohio said, “mowing the lawn seems to be the biggest form of neighborhood peer pressure. If my immediate neighbors on both sides of my house cut their grass, I definitely feel pressured to cut my grass, as all of sudden my lawn appears overgrown or not well kept.” It can cause a bit of an issue when taken too far, as not everybody has the time or means to keep up with their neighbors, but a little bit of rivalry can cause positive changes in your neighborhood.

How Does Curb Appeal Effect Individuals?

A homeowner from the Columbus, OH area sat down with us to talk about their personal experience with home curb appeal.

How long have you been a homeowner, and how do you feel about home projects?

“We have been home owners in the Gahanna / New Albany, Ohio area for around three years. Initially, I never considered myself a handy person around the house, but now that we are homeowners, I feel like I have become more handy with various projects. Now I enjoy working on home improvement projects, and it’s a great sense of satisfaction once a project is completed and in working condition.”

How do you learn about improving your home?

“YouTube tutorial videos have been my best friend. There is always someone out there who has experienced your same problem with the same brand name item, and they are willing to document their experience and walk you through step by step until completion. They usually include a link to purchase necessary items in their YouTube video as well, which makes it very convenient.”

Do your neighbors influence the look of your home?

“I do find myself admiring certain aspects of my neighbor’s homes in our neighborhood. For example, a neighbor’s retaining rock wall around a garden bed, flowers and plants in a front yard, or the overall maintenance of a front lawn. Vice versa, I do enjoy the compliments from neighbors when they make a comment on an aspect of our home’s curb appeal. It always looks sharp right after mowing the lawn, adding mulch to the front flower bed, swapping out outdoor light fixtures, etc.”

How do you feel about curb appeal peer pressure?

“I do believe that ‘Keeping up with the Joneses’ is a very real psychological mind game, that really should only have a positive outcome, unless you have an unhealthy obsession, just like any hobby or fixation.”

Easy Ideas for Curb Appeal

1. Spruce up your landscaping.

One of the quickest and easiest ways to improve your home’s curb appeal is to pay attention to your landscaping. Some ideas for curb appeal landscaping can be found in Better Homes & Gardens. Start by mowing the lawn and trimming any overgrown shrubs or trees (and pay attention as the neighbors start to follow suit). Then, add some color with some fresh flowers or mulch. Don’t be afraid to take inspiration from a neighbor if you admire their front yard. A little bit of TLC for your yard can go a long way!

2. Pressure wash the exterior of your house

If your home’s siding or brick is looking a little dull, consider renting a pressure washer to give it a good cleaning. You would be surprised how much of a difference this can make! Color is a big factor when it comes to house curb appeal, so you do not want the color of your house to be covered with dirt. Just be sure to use caution and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid damaging your home’s exterior.

3. Paint the front door

Your front door is one of the first things that visitors will notice, so make sure it is looking its best. If it is starting to show signs of wear and tear, consider giving it a fresh coat of paint. Choosing a bold, bright color can really make your front door pop and give your home some added curb appeal. But what about curb appeal for houses with no front door? If your front door is hidden, then you can rely on landscaping, pressure washing, and a generally clean exterior to all contribute to home curb appeal.

4. Add some new hardware

If your front door is looking a little lackluster, new hardware is an easy way to give it an instant update. Swap out your old doorknob and door knocker for something new and shiny, or give your current hardware a good cleaning. This is a quick and easy project that can be done in an afternoon, and it is relatively inexpensive, too.

5. Hang some new lights

Another quick and easy way to add curb appeal is to update your outdoor lighting, and check that your porch and garage door lights are still working. Whether you opt for new sconces by the front door, or solar lights to line your walkway, fresh lighting can really make a difference. Not to mention, it is also a great way to make your home more safe and secure.

Does Replacing Your Roof Improve Curb Appeal?

Yes! Your roof is one of the most important parts of your home when it comes to curb appeal. The roof is what protects your home from the elements, so it needs to be in good condition. If your roof is in bad shape, it can make your home look run-down and unkept. A new roof can instantly transform the look of your home and make it more inviting. If you are thinking about selling your home, a new roof can also increase its value.

Do Roof Colors Affect House Curb Appeal?

Though it may not seem like it, there are many different colors of roofing. If the color of your siding clashes with the color of your shingles, it can lower your curb appeal. How do you know which shingle color is the right one for your home? It mostly depends on the aesthetic you are going for. If you are unhappy with the color of your roof, it might be time for a roof color change. Check out Owens Corning shingle color of the year, Bourbon, for some inspiration.

When in doubt, here is a guide for which roof colors go best with which house colors:

Roof colors for white house:

Lifetime Quality Roofing recommends virtually any color, but darker colors are best. Blue is always a fun option.

Roof colors for tan house:

Lifetime Quality Roofing recommends darker colors, like black or brown.

Roof colors for gray house:

Lifetime Quality Roofing recommends a popular color combination, gray on gray, but try green for a fun pop of color.

Roof colors for red brick house:

Lifetime Quality Roofing recommends blacks and browns, as they typically look best for this color.

Roof colors for yellow house:

Lifetime Quality Roofing recommends gray, tan, or brown as good choices for this color house.

Of course, this is just a guide, not law. The best roof color for you is the one that you love! Trust your instincts when it comes to shingle color. After all, the exterior of a home is often an extension of the homeowner.

Here For a Lifetime

Whether you are trying to keep up with your neighbors, or you simply want to increase your home’s value, curb appeal should always be in a homeowner’s mind. Keeping up with curb appeal does not have to be expensive. Little things that make your home beautiful, like landscaping and cleanliness, all add up to your home’s value. Don’t forget your roof, though. Your roof is just one aspect of your home that contributes greatly to property value.

Lifetime Quality Roofing is a proud Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor. Owens Corning offers a multitude of colors to fit any home imaginable. Whether you’re in Columbus, OH, Cincinnati, OH, Pittsburgh, PA, Dallas, TX, and Tampa, FL. Our expert inspectors will help you to pick the color that fits your home’s aesthetic, as well as easily maintain your roof. Give us a call at 614-407-7663 to book a free roof inspection and to learn more about your shingle color options!