How to revamp your house facade

When you’re showing your house to potential buyers, many of them make up their mind in the first few minutes.

Having already done their research online, physically looking at the house is mostly about getting a feel for the property. Often, their gut decision is made before they even cross the threshold.

Known as improving its kerb appeal, taking the time to improve the front of your property can go a long way to encouraging buyers to make a bid on your property.

Gerard Francisco, owner of Home & Handy in Sydney, is brought in to help many homeowners get their properties ready for sale, and believes consulting with a professional for a different perspective is always a good first step.

He says, “I think people get carried away. Sure, they get ideas from things that they’ve seen, but they forget about the things they’ve got that are really good. Some people, for example, who are moving out have been there for 25 years so they don’t see what I see.”

“They’re so used to their environment, they don’t necessarily see something that could be a really good asset. I’ve got fresh eyes when I arrive. I’ll bring to attention that they may not have considered because all they’re thinking about is getting the best price.”

1. Clean your house facade

Sometimes, all your house needs is a good scrub. Over time, dirt can accumulate on the walls and give it a slightly ‘off’ look, but luckily it’s easily improved. You could get out there with a broom and a bucket of water, but an easier way to get your home looking shipshape is to hire a pressure cleaning expert and let them do the job for you.

A professional cleaner knows how to remove dirt and rejuvenate your house facade without damaging the exterior walls or roof, making this a safer option than taking a DIY approach and usually affordable too.

Prices vary across the country but expect to pay a pressure cleaning professional around $350 for the exterior of a house.

2. Replace your front door

If your exterior walls are clean enough, but something’s missing and your house looks ordinary from the street, one of the easiest ways to update the look of your home is to add a new front door.

Your front door should be inviting to those who come in, so something familiar and elegant can do the trick. A timber door can look striking against brickwork, or you can choose an entry door in bold colours to make a statement with your exterior house updates.

The cost of a door can be anywhere from $150 to $1000 depending on the materials and size.

3. Replace your garage door

If your garage faces the road, your garage door is going to have a big visual impact. Just like your front door, a new garage door can be a major update to the facade of a house.

Choose a high-quality garage door in a colour and material that highlights the good points of your facade. You can take it one step further and tie it in with your entry door and other elements of your facade for a harmonious finish.

This will likely cost more than your front door. Expect a garage door to cost anywhere from $600 for a budget roller door to $5000 for an automatic sectional door.

4. Paint your house exterior

Whether your house facade looks dull or you want a new look entirely, a new coat of paint can be a powerful update to the outside of a house.

An exterior painting professional can advise you on the best colours to choose, considering ease of maintenance and the mood and effect you want to achieve – a bold statement, a stylish layered look, high contrast or minimalist.

5. Landscaping

Landscaping can do wonders for your house facade. Well placed plants can give your outdoor area a balanced look, hide unsightly elements and highlight the parts of your facade that you want to be on display.

A garden designer can help you to choose and place plants for the best aesthetic finish. They’ll also know what plants grow best in your area and what to plant in a shady or sunny area.

Gerard from Home & Handy says that sometimes, the best option is to create a beautiful garden that requires little upkeep.

Gerard says, “People want to buy homes that are low maintenance, so creating that idea when they see it, and creating that wow factor, they’re thinking ‘I don’t have to do much here’. I think that’s an important thing, because that’s an ongoing cost otherwise.”

“It starts in the front yard. Before they walk through that door, you want to put a smile on people’s faces. If that does it, you’re halfway there because they walk in the house already happy.”

6. Hardscaping

Hardscaping is a term used by landscapers to define the hard elements of a landscape. In a front yard, a driveway and footpaths are typical elements of hardscaping that interact with the house facade.

If you’re worried that your driveway and footpaths might be detracting from your facade rather than enhancing it, you could give them a new lease on life through pressure cleaning or by resurfacing the driveway and installing a new footpath.

The cost to resurface your driveway can vary but expect to pay from $35 per sq/m for standard concrete.

7. Exterior lighting

One of the simplest and cheapest exterior house updates, many homeowners overlook the power of lighting for completing their home makeover.

Without good exterior lighting, all that passersby will see is a rectangular glow coming from behind the living room curtains and a dim porch light, with the rest of the house shrouded in darkness. An outdoor lighting expert can install lighting that flatters your house facade and your landscaping.

8. Fencing

Fencing does more than define your home’s borders. If you don’t have a fence, this could be the missing design element your house needs.

A fence that complements a small house facade can make the home appear larger, because it “wraps” the house and garden into a single unit. As when choosing a door, you should choose fence materials and colours that complement or contrast your facade, depending on the effect you want to achieve.

Fencing prices change depending on material, but for a hardwood fence expect to pay between $80 to $125 per metre.