If you live in an older home that needs a face-lift, you might be tempted just to paint it white or one of the many neutral colors you see around you. But sometimes neutrals just fade into the background. So, if you want your home to stand out, consider being bold and expressive with your exterior.

As you drive through older neighborhoods, make a note of the colors you love and the combinations that stand out to you. Depending on the exterior materials—stucco, brick, block, rock, vinyl, wood siding, shakes, etc. - and the architectural details you want to highlight, you can locate samples that “speak to you” and express your home’s personality.

Beware the covenants

If you live in an association operated development, check your covenants before hiring that paint crew. Some associations require submission of color choices and alternatives to an architectural or aesthetic committee for approval. Others have pre-selected color schemes from which to choose. In those cases, your options are more limited than if you can freely decide for yourself. So, select a combination that differs from your nearest neighbors and from other houses with your same facade. Opt for colorful shutters and doors instead to give your home some extra visibility.

Be brave, not obnoxious

On the other hand, if you have available any choice in the world, choose combinations that reflect the region, enhance the neighborhood, and reveal your home’s unique features. In many cases, subtlety adds more value to your home than a glaring hue. But if you’re showcasing a Mid-Century or ultra-modern home, go ahead and shout it out!

If you’re not sure what works for you, take a trip to your local specialty paint store. There, an in-house designer can show you combinations of color and materials, finishes and sheen. You’ll learn what colors can fade in bright sunshine or dull with the weather, and which paints will hold up to your local environmental conditions.

Also, take note of the preparation required to give your new exterior a long, full life. You may need to clean and power wash brick, repair cracked or broken stucco, and scrape peeling paint from wood siding and window trim.

While fiber-cement-based siding often accepts paint, vinyl likely does not, or it only accepts specific paint applications with an adhesive primer and quality, acrylic paint. Do not attempt to paint vinyl siding yourself without practicing the techniques on a hidden area first. If your home has vinyl siding, you may want to change the siding to change the color instead. Check the pricing both ways to see which is more economical for your home.

If you’re painting your home to sell it, get the opinion of your real estate professional for colors that attract buyers in your area.

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Homeowners make changes and improvements to their property for several reasons including to increase aesthetic appeal, provide mechanical upgrades, and boost the house's value. Regardless of your intentions, it is vital to know what your home needs so that you don't end up undertaking a project that is a waste of money and adds little utility or value. 

Before starting any house renovation project, make sure you carry out thorough research to see what improvements can raise your property value. Check out these home upgrades that would cost you a pretty penny but offer low returns when it is time to sell your home. 

Built-in aquariums

Building an aquarium into the wall or cabinets of your home will make your home look beautiful. However, these stunning upgrades can turn off potential buyers because not everyone wants to deal with the high cost of maintenance.

Swimming pool

As expensive as it is to install a swimming pool, it does not significantly increase the value of your property. A swimming pool requires constant attention and many home buyers can't deal with the upkeep. Apart from the high maintenance, home buyers that have little children see pools as a potential danger because of the fear of drowning accidents.

Built-in electronics

Having a floor-to-ceiling media center may look stunning and fit your love for big screens and entertainment, but some potential buyers may view it as a drain of energy costs and a waste of space. A high-end surround sound system or home theater doesn't work for everyone and may limit your pool of potential buyers. Besides, electronics change year to year, so anything you install will be out of date by the time you sell.

Home office

Even though freelancing is now common, and everybody seems to be working from home, adding a home office is a bad idea. Prospective buyers may be turned off by a room that can't function or substitute as an extra bedroom. However, if there is already a home office, keep the room simple; a chair, desk and good lighting are enough. Keeping the area simple will allow buyers to visualize the place for another purpose easily.

Luxurious bathroom 

Adding waterfall showers, imported tiles, hot tubs, steam room, or a sauna will cost you a lot of money but rather than attracting buyers, these luxuries will scare off many of them. You should consider doing more in the kitchen to which more buyers are likely to pay attention.

Installing an over-the-top chandelier

Every buyer wants to buy a home with bright light, but if you empty your wallet buying an expensive chandelier, you probably won't get a dime back. Chandeliers are something of a personal choice. You may spend thousands of dollars to install it, only to have it removed after you sold your home.

Consult your real estate agent to find out what home improvements are in high demand in your area before starting your next home renovation project.

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