Talk about some seriously impressive makeovers! These curb appeal before and after photos prove that with some paint, some plants, and some hard work, even the most drab and depressing properties can look like a million bucks.
From Too Much to Just Enough
The cottage in the “before” picture might be someone’s idea of heaven… but most buyers will only see the tremendous amount of yard work involved in maintaining that garden.
After the makeover, the front yard has been tamed into something more manageable, allowing the charming Craftsman features of the home to shine. The front porch now looks like an inviting place to spend a pleasant evening.
Mission: Makeover
The Mission-style house in the “before” photo looks terribly boring and plain. There’s nothing about it that screams “buy me!” While the property seems to be in good shape, there is almost no landscaping.
What a difference! The fresh coat of paint livens up the home, but it’s the landscaping that really makes the property shine. The native grasses and flowers that line the new sidewalk make the home look like an inviting oasis. Note the potted plants flanking the front door–and the updated light fixtures.
Charming Dollhouse
The right buyer could have seen the potential in this diamond in the rough, but with a few tweaks, the sellers could get a huge return on investment. The shabby paint and overgrown lawn make the place look abandoned. Let’s see how they turned this property around!
Well, hello there! Isn’t it amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do? The only major difference is the new stair railing, which matches the Victorian “painted lady” vibe of the home. Otherwise it’s just paint and a few potted flowers that make all the difference.
Can This Home Be Saved?
Unlike some of the other properties on this list, the home above was never a charmer even when it was first built. Someone along the line seems to have removed the original shutters, but how much can you really improve a big brick box?
Ta-da! A new portico and re-installed shutters are the stars of the show, but don’t overlook the smaller details. The windows have fresh trim that gives them more emphasis, and the red front door draws the eye. The landscaping isn’t over the top, but even a few bushes make the home look so much better.
Pergola Power
The home above isn’t anything special. It looks like countless other mid-century builds that haven’t aged well. There’s nothing wrong with it, per se, but it’s not going to knock anyone’s socks off, either. The unkempt shrubs and ferns obscure most of the entryway, and the iron railing looks like it has seen better days.
Obviously, a lot of work went into this property. Your clients probably won’t want to do that much landscaping or rebuild the front steps, but elements of this curb appeal before and after aren’t that hard to achieve. Painted brick is a great way to update a property, and the teal front door gives the place a pop of color. Notice the updated house numbers, too!
The airy pergola that replaces the dark overhang of the old entryway looks amazing, doesn’t it?
So Close, Yet So Far…
This home isn’t terrible, but they seemed to have learned all the wrong lessons about curb appeal. The window boxes are under-used, with only a few wilted or dead plants. The ferns and potted plants are nice enough, but the outdated metal awning makes everything too dark.
And what is going on with those shutters? They add a little interest to the facade, but there isn’t enough room to put a complete set on every window.
Now that’s what you call a curb appeal before and after success story! The lawn is cleaned up and the funky shutters are gone. The fresh coat of paint makes the home look refreshed without completely changing its character.
The big win here is, of course, losing that awning. It lightens up the house so much! The sellers also wisely repainted the front steps, which were chipped and worn. Overall, great job!
