text: home improvement brad | Archives | 2018 | October | Page 6
  Top 3 Tricks To Improve Your Home's Exterior On A Really Small Budget
  While you are probably more concerned about the interior décor of the house, the truth is that the façade matters as well. After all, you don't want your home to be the one that drags down the real estate value of the neighborhood, right? However, many people constantly postpone the exterior 'beautification" project because they consider it's extremely expensive. True, a complete makeover of the house will cost you a hefty sum, but there are a few simple tricks that can transform your property into the star of the neighborhood without dipping into your kids' college fund. Let's elaborate.
  1. The image of your home doesn't start with the front door
  When you think about it, the appeal of a house is determined by the sum of all elements present on the property, a conglomerate of factors if you will. Consequentially, before you evaluate the structural elements that require an upgrade, you should first examine the yard. Simple things such as chaotically growing hedges, an improperly trimmed lawn, a cracked sidewalk/entryway or topped off garbage cans in front of the house are incredibly distasteful and unpleasant to the eye.
  In order to get the full perspective, go across the street and examine the yard problems that you should be addressing. You will be amazed how much a healthy raked lawn and neatly trimmed hedges can enhance your property's aspect. Don't forget to mask or hide the garbage bins.
  2. The paint job is the oldest trick in the book
  After you have addressed the yard problems, it's time to move your project forward. If your home's last paint job was performed a long time ago, then it is advisable to repaint the whole thing, including walls, doors/windows trimmings, the yard's picket fence, etc. On the other hand, if you have recently painted the sidings, then you can simply stick to the doors and windows trimmings. In order to maximize the visibility of the improvements, you can always go for slightly contrasting tones for these locations.
  And, since you've already taken out the ladder, then why not replace those old leaky gutters/downspouts with brad new shiny versions made from chrome or stainless steel? These fixtures are virtually inexpensive and tend to boost property value as well as appeal quite a lot.
  3. The little things that matter a lot
  The biggest part of your project is complete, so now it's time to add extra "charm" by improving/replacing less obvious details. For example, you can always swap the boring lighting system for a new one that highlights the best features of the house. Alternatively, you can purchase a new set of shutters for the front side of your home or install new front door hardware. At the same time, maybe your old mailbox can be replaced by a wall mounted version. Don't forget about the garage door as well! And, speaking of details, you can gradually improve the façade of the house by adding outdoor furniture (benches, a table, etc.) as well as window-mounted flowerpots or perennial plants in your garden.
  Nominated for 9 Golden Globes and 34 Emmys, including 2 for Outstanding Comedy Series, Home Improvement was the number one family-friendly comedy for most of the 1990's decade. Created by three writers who worked on wide range of sitcoms, such as The Cosby Show (1984) and Roseanne (1988), Home Improvement is one of a number of 1990's smash hit sitcoms built around a lead character who stars as a stand-up comic in real life. Some of the other series include Seinfeld (1990), The Drew Carey Show (1995), Everybody Loves Raymond (1996), and King Of Queens (1998) among others. One of the trailblazers in this area, Home Improvement ranked in the Top 10 among Nielsen-rated shows for seven of its eight seasons (it ranked #11 in Season 7). One notable tidbit of trivia is that Sears was approached to sponsor the show which would've put Craftsman tools in the hands of Tim "The Toolman" Taylor (as opposed to the fictional "Binford" brand), but Sears rejected the offer because they feared Tim Allen's prior conviction on a drug charge might be interpreted as unfriendly to families (funny, since Home Improvement later fell under the moniker of the Walt Disney Company)…