Winter Curb Appeal Prep – How to Make Your Home Stand Out in Spring

The colder winter months provide the ideal time frame for readying your home's exterior and landscaping to shine brightly come springtime. With some strategic planning and maintenance tasks tackled during winter, your property can stand out in a positive way as the warmer season approaches.

Proactive Steps to Prevent Winter Damage

A huge part of ensuring your home looks fabulous during spring is being on top of potential damage that could happen during winter. Winter weather takes a toll on your home's exterior, but preventative steps can help. 

Minimize the damage by doing these proactive steps:

• Clear Snow and Ice
  Allowing ice and snow to accumulate can lead to costly damage and safety hazards. Remove snow from rooftops and gutters to prevent ice dams from forming, which could cause leaks or other interior/exterior damage.
• Clean Gutters and Downspouts
  Clogged gutters cause overflow, leading moisture damage as snow melts. Make sure your roof drainage remains clear of any debris to protect your home. 
• Trim Overgrown Trees and Shrubs
  Overgrown landscaping can get damaged by heavy snow or ice accumulation, trim back tree limbs and shrubs to prevent breakage and to facilitate proper roof and gutter drainage.

Make Exterior Repairs and Upgrades

Winter is the perfect time to make repairs and upgrades to the exterior of your home. You might have to bundle up, but your invested time will pay off in a few months when spring arrives. 

Build a Deck

Why would you want to build a deck during winter when you can’t use it? If there is no snow on the ground, the dry, less-humid weather of winter creates ideal conditions for building a wood deck. The wood stays in-tact and doesn’t react to humidity. Plus, building the deck during winter means it’s ready for use on the first warm days of spring. 

Upgrade Outdoor Lighting

Replace old or worn exterior lighting with new energy efficient LED fixtures. Update entryway lanterns and spotlights to light up architectural details. 

Improve Windows and Doors

Replace drafty old windows and doors with energy efficient models to reduce heating bills – new double pane windows and a stylish new entry door can drastically improve curb appeal.

Declutter and Organize

Winter is a great time to clean out garages and storage sheds. Properly discard or donate unused items. Install shelving and storage bins to neatly organize essentials items and hide clutter from view. 

A Little Winter Prep Goes a Long Way

Tackling winter curb appeal projects will help you home look clean, well-maintained, and updated when spring finally makes its debut. If you’re hoping to make major changes to your property this coming year, seizing time during winter will help you get one step ahead Instead of tackling a long list of repairs and overdue projects in May, you can focus on fun curb appeal finishes like potted plants, outdoor furniture, and seasonal decor. 

The effort you put in over the winter will have your home ready to impress as warmer weather brings more time spent outside. Remember, curb appeal is important year-round. Invest some time into winter prep and you’ll be rewarded with a standout home when spring arrives.