The Exterior Renovations That Can Boost Your Curb Appeal

In today’s digital age, curb appeal has never been more important when selling your home. With the popularity of mobile real estate apps, your home’s exterior could mean the difference between somebody taking the time to view the inside of your property or scrolling on by without giving it a chance.

Renovations can be essential to the effective marketing and value of your home, which is why it’s important to know which exterior renovations can provide the most return on investment. If you don’t know where to start, consider getting a professional opinion. 

Have peace of mind knowing that when you hire an experienced agent, they will be able to help you weigh your options and provide helpful suggestions to boost your home’s overall appeal and value. 

When you are ready to sell, consider these top-ranked renovation ideas that can enhance your curb appeal and increase your home’s value at the same time. 

Garage Door Replacements

When you first updated your house exterior, replacing your garage door may not have been first on your list. It is, however, the number one exterior renovation to do, according to a 2021 cost vs. value report. It also happens to be one of the cheapest renovations, averaging at $3900, with a return of investment of 94%, or roughly $3600. 

Nobody likes creaking, rusting, or non-functional garage doors that can result in your car stranded either inside or outside your garage. 

Since they’re not often replaced, updating your garage door to be in line with a modern look, and adding invisible upgrades such as Wi-Fi enablers and smartphone pairing, can help add significant curb appeal to your home.

Manufactured Stone Veneers

Manufactured stone veneers are sidings made from moulded cement and pigments, meant to emulate the much more expensive natural stone, at one-third of the cost. These sidings are one of the most valuable returns of investments, with a cost recovery of 92% on average. 

Depending on the size and complexity of the project, installing the veneers can cost up to $10,000, so you can expect to earn back approximately $9200 of that in resale.

New Siding: Fiber Cement or Vinyl?

Stone veneers may be great for a display wall or architectural pieces, but what about the rest of the house exterior? There are actually two big contenders: fiber cement and vinyl. Each comes with its own pros and cons.

• Fiber Cement: Fiber cement is a siding made to emulate a natural wood finish but with increased durability and without the risks of rot or damage. It is also a slightly better investment, with an expected cost recovery of 69.4% versus vinyl’s return of 68.3%.

• Vinyl: Vinyl does have a few benefits to it that its rival does not. Vinyl is more insulating than fiber cement and is preferable when rating the energy efficiency of a house. Vinyl also offers the convenience of limited upkeep, usually requiring a good power wash annually, where fiber cement may need to be repainted and re-caulked every few years to keep its aesthetically pleasing look. 

Both siding options are one of the more costly exterior renovations, costing in the ballpark of $19,000 and $16,000, respectively.