Up Your Home's Curb Appeal This Spring

I am a fan of HGTV programs like Curb Appeal and Designed to Sell (with Clive Pearse and Lisa LaPorta), and am ahome-obsessed real estate junkie. It’s probably because I spent much of my formative years house hunting with my parents.

I’ve been interested in improving the outward appearance of my family’s home, and we recently had a new bay window installed. So, now I plan to turn my attention to upping my home’s curb appeal.

If you would like to improve your own home’s outward look, either for your own enjoyment or to improve the chances of selling your home, try these tips:

 • Make a grand entrance: Try painting your front door a color that complements your home, or go with a classic black or bold red. Swap out tired hardware on your door for updated locks and knob.

• Lead the way: Fix up your entryway by repairing crumbling walkways. If you have a concrete walkway that’s in good shape but looks tired, consider using a concrete stain in tan or gray to add a little color.

• Spruce up landscaping: Trim any overgrown hedges by the door and clean up weedy flower beds. You might even try planting some summer bulbs so you’ll have flowers when the warmer months arrive.

• Light it up: If your home still sports builder-grade exterior light fixtures, consider upgrading them to give it a more classic look. Better yet, go with energy-efficient models that come with light sensors so you can use less energy andprovide more security for your home.