There is an often watched television show that works with people to help them prepare their homes for sale. The catch phrase they use in this production is "curb appeal." Why wait until you are going to sell your home to develop curb appeal? You drive home every day and see your home from the street. Your neighbors also see it from their homes every day. Why not keep your curb appeal 365 days a year?
There are many ways to accomplish this. You can keep a fresh coat of paint on the house. You can attend to your landscaping and keep it fresh. One easy way to do it is to enhance your window dressings. Decorative blinds on the inside and exterior wood shutters on the outside will add a lot to the eyes of your home.
Exterior wood shutters do not have to be expensive. Measure the height of your windows and go to your local Lowe's or Home Depot. They have them in various stock sizes for a variety of windows; these will have to be finished before they are installed on your windows. New exterior wood shutters would quickly absorb the moisture in the air if not sealed and finished. Many times a good wood stain will provide the necessary protection and create a beautiful wooden contrast to your homes siding. If the natural wood look is not to your liking, paint your exterior wood shutters to match the trim on your home. Bear in mind that using too many colors will cause a visual clash and distract from your curb appeal.
Take some of the money you saved on the shutters and purchase quality hardware to hang them. You can really enhance their appearance with quality hinges and hangers. Nothing will detract more from your curb appeal than cheap hardware that shows the effect of the weather and starts to let your shutters hang askew.
With your finished exterior wood shutters in place drive by your home and notice the difference. When you get back make a note to check them annually. Even the best paints or stains will show the weather after awhile. Remember, the weathering is easier to correct when caught early.
