Does your home have Curb Appeal?

Curb Appeal is the attractiveness of the exterior of a residential or commerical property as viewed from the street. The exterior of your home is your guests first impression and makes a statement on your lifestyle.

There are several simple and cost effective ways to transform your home's curb appeal into a warm welcoming eye catcher. First of all the shell of your home, siding covering should always be in tip top shape, not just for the eye to see but to protect your home. Some easy low cost DIY curb appeal ideas are:
Update Entryway, replace or paint the entry door, red is one of my favorites it pops and looks great year round. Update hardware on the door and catchy porch light fixture. Check the clearance sections at your local hardware store, usually some great deals in the lighting section! Whats your drive and walkway like? How about edging out that driveway with pavers or bricks, add some solar lights along the walkway to welcome those evening guests right to your door. Mailboxes are often forgotten, is your post rotted with an old beat up mailbox on top? Replace it with a new post painted or stained and put a new maillbox up there, to catch even more attention consider a brick or stone column to hold that box, that will for sure make yours stand out from the rest. You can also add some plants and flowers around the base to add some color. Then of course there is the landscaping of your lawn, keep your trees, bushes, and scrubs trimmed nice and neat, add some mulch to your flower beds or dead areas in your yard and plant some flowers or plants to add some color throughout the lawn.

Most importantly keep up the maintenance on the exterior of your home as it is the glue that holds your home together and protects the interior of your home.

Winter can be harsh on the home....

You could be throwing away hundreds of hard earned dollars on your electric and heating bills! If your home is not properly sealed and insulated, you are blowing money away.

Check for drafts around windows, doors, attic opening, and plumbing outlets. Seal with weather stripping and caulk where needed.

Insulation in the attic should be at a R30-60 rating, floors should be R25-30 ratings and wood framed walls at a R5 rating.

You could save upto $200.00 a year on your electric by installing the proper rating of insulation in your home.

Recommended Insulation Levels from Energy Star

Low Cost Home Improvements that add value and style ....

Did you know you don't have to break the bank to update your home? Add value and style with a few low cost home improvement projects. A fresh coat of paint and new floor covering are always the easiest way to go, but check out these other helpful tips to get your home up to date and in style....

• Kitchen: updating appliances, lighting, and cabinets. Without the high cost of replacing your cabinets consider a facelift! A fresh coat of paint, sanding along with restaining, and adding new fixtures will have those warn out cabinets looking brand new. 
• Bathroom: Change out the old warn vanity, replace the sink top, change out the lighting fixtures, and hardware ... a whole new look is as easy as that. 
• Througout the  home: Changing out light fixtures and ceiling fans, door hardware, and all the little forgtten outdated things in the home are easy DIY projects that are inexpensive ideas to bring your home to date. 

Always be sure to check out clearance sections at your local hardware stores or even look for a Re-Store warehouse near you for some amazing deals.