The Overlooked Curb Appeal Upgrade That Can Increase Your Home Value

Whether you're getting ready to put your home on the market now or at some point in the not-so-distant future, it's smart to look for ways you may be able to increase its value. Among some of the most common value-adding renovations are full bathroom and kitchen remodels, as these spots are often top-of-mind for prospective buyers. Backyard renovations are also having a moment, thanks to the trend of outdoor entertaining. The downside is that these projects can require larger investments upfront, and there's certainly no guarantee that you'll make up all of that money when you do sell your home. To that end, many homeowners are looking for simpler ways to potentially boost the value of their homes. One often-overlooked feature is the numbers on your home or mailbox, which also happens to be a quick and inexpensive project.

While you might invest a lot of time and money maintaining the inside of your home, it's important to look for ways to increase your home's curb appeal, too. Since most people don't spend a ton of time standing in front of their homes, it's understandably easy to forget about this important feature. When it comes time to sell your home, though, your home's curb appeal can make or break your chances of attracting prospective buyers. It also helps if buyers can actually find your home and that its house numbers stand out. While there's no guarantee of any specific ROI for this type of curb appeal fix, it can complement other home features to help you secure an offer.

It might not seem like a huge deal, but when prospective buyers see old, worn-out numbers on either your home or mailbox, this can make them think twice about stepping inside. Even worse is having missing numbers entirely. Not only might a potential buyer not be able to find your home, but this is also dangerous from an emergency services standpoint. To the latter point, some areas now require legible house numbers on buildings so that personnel, such as police officers and paramedics, can find your home in case of an emergency.

Luckily, this is an easy fix, and it can instantly boost your home's curb appeal. If you want to add or replace address numbers on the front of your home, look for large digits that are at least 4 inches high so that they are completely visible to people driving by. If you have a mailbox, replace the address numbers with a new set of stickers. Another relatively affordable option is to give your mailbox an upgrade entirely and customize it with permanent address numbers.

In addition to replacing house numbers, there are other inexpensive and easy ways you can boost your home's curb appeal while possibly adding value, such as cleaning your gutters and keeping up with landscaping. If your home's exterior needs to be repainted, this may be another great way to increase curb appeal if you have a bit more flexibility in your budget. Just be sure to repaint before adding your new address numbers.