No matter if you’re a hasty seller or a proud homeowner, the benefits of upping your curb appeal can pay huge dividends. A few tweaks and upgrades can make your home a quick sell or the envy of the block.

Here’s the good news: Small alterations can make a big difference. Better Homes and Gardens has assembled a great list of 20 simple, cost-effective improvements to help boost your property’s curb appeal. Even better: You won’t need to quote a team of contractors. These are DIY projects to help your place make a stunning first impression.

Among the projects you could knock out in one weekend:

• Replace old hardware. House numbers, the entry door lockset, a wall-mounted mailbox, and an overhead light fixture are all elements that can add style and interest to your home’s exterior. If they’re out of date or dingy, your home might not be conveying the aesthetic you think it is. These elements add the most appeal when they function collectively, rather than as mix-and-match pieces. Oiled-bronze finishes suit traditional homes, while brushed nickel suits more contemporary ones.
• Install outdoor lighting. Low-voltage landscape lighting makes a huge impact on your home’s curb appeal while also providing safety and security. Fixtures can add accent lighting to trees or the house or can illuminate a walking path. If you aren’t able to use lights that require wiring, install solar fixtures (but understand that their light levels are not as bright or as reliable).
• Install window boxes. Window boxes offer a fast, easy way to bring color and charm to your home exterior. Choose boxes made from copper or iron for a traditional look, or painted wood for a cottage feel. Mix and match flowers and plants to suit your lighting conditions and color scheme.

Of course, if you’ve been pulling into the same driveway for quite some time, it can be difficult to judge where your home may need improvements.

Lori Kim Polk, owner of Stage Right Design in Sacramento, Calif., writes about five questions a homeowner must ask before taking on a curb appeal project. Start by standing across the street from your home, then ask:

1. Can you see it? Trees and shrubs have their place, but how do they affect the visibility of your home from the street? Think of them as a frame – do they help or hurt the picture?
2. How is the paint? Neutral colors are safest when selling, but think of the front door and patio as the focal point for passersby. A fresh coat on the door or simply painting trim can do wonders.
3. How is the driveway? Think “clean and clear.” Try to get rid of any unpleasant oil stains and fill cracks where possible. Driveways say a lot about a home’s age. A clean, well-kept driveway can make a home look newer.
4. Is your walkway to the front door defined? If you have the patio space, create a sitting area. Consider a flower bed, brick or stone walkways and outdoor lighting. Visitors should feel drawn to your front door.
5. How is the landscaping? Lawn upkeep is critical. Make sure your grass is watered, mowed and edged. Use brightly colored flowers to make your yard feel alive. Potted plants are another great option if you don’t have the time or space to plant a flower bed.

While they say you can’t judge a book by its cover, a house could be a totally different story.

The exterior of your home is an investment. Whether you are a new buyer, seller or holding on to your home, your home’s exterior greatly affects first impressions as well as market value. By building an exterior that you could be proud of and is beautiful to look at, you are maximizing that investment.

As a builder, many of my homebuyers make their decisions within seconds of arriving at the new home.  Believe it or not, even before people take that first knock on that beautiful oak or mahogany front door, the decision has been made.

Tackling the Exterior Color:

Both the condition and color of a home’s exterior affect buyers’ impressions. Choosing the exterior colors of your home may sound limiting and a bit overwhelming, but today there are so many choices that your exterior colors can be.  And, with a little imagination and some terrific accent colors, you can make your home stand out from the rest of the neighborhood and make Ms. Johnson down the street even more envious than she already is.

How to Choose that Exterior Color:

Many of you may be familiar with the term “Painted Lady, ” which refers to older Victorian homes that can have as many as 25 different colors on the exterior. While most homeowners do not live in a home that may require this type of painting style, it’s very easy to get a beautiful looking home with minimal maintenance requirements as long as you consider the following tips:

• What’s your style? Figure out what you like. The right color choice can make all the difference in the look and feel of your home. Keep in mind that light colors make a house look larger, while dark colors tend to make the house look smaller. Also consider the color of houses nearby and avoid copycat or clashing colors.

• Consider the color combination. We’re not all Vincent Van Gogh when it comes to choosing the most complimentary color combinations, but I recommend applying a clay color to the exterior siding and, instead of using the normal white trim, apply a cameo color to the trim.  This is a softer white with a little cream in it.  Then, on the sashes of the windows (the part that goes up and down), paint these two shades darker than the siding.  This effect gives your home some depth and can be done with almost any color combination.

• Think small accents. They can go a long way in making your home pop out from the rest and make you feel great every time you pull up in front.

• Give it a test drive. Don’t be afraid to test out an area first before you paint the whole home. Spend a little time and money on test cans to make sure you are making the right choice. Also, leave the sample up for a couple of days and view the choices under different lighting conditions, like in the morning, afternoon or evening.

• Consider the grounds. Another thing you should also consider are the materials for your sidewalk, driveway and patio. Whether it is brick, concrete, tar or pebbles, you want the accents colors in your grounds to complement the final color of the home.

• Remember, this isn’t just a beautiful exterior – it’s an investment. Always go with the highest quality paint that you can afford. Avoid “bargain” or discount paints. For a bargain price without compromising quality, price-shop name brand paints at sale time, usually around midsummer, with major paint sales coming just after the 4th of July and again in the fall.

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Today’s link love post includes ideas on cheap ways to boost your home’s curb appeal, a device that lets you save money on printing costs, and shingles that generate solar power. Let’s get to it.

10 Cheap Ways to Boost Your Curb Appeal
Charles & Hudson
Using some tips from Shop Smart magazine as a launching pad, the good folks at Charles & Hudson share 10 tips on cheap ways to boost your home’s curb appeal. Some would go further than others, but they’re all dead simple. Add a welcome mat, paint the front door, place some potted plants. Simple but effective for adding nice touches to the look and feel of your home.

Dump Coffee Grinds In Your Printer????
Home Design Find
Unfortunately this idea only exists in concept, but it’s wacky enough to warrant a mention. Like most people, you probably don’t enjoy spending boatloads of money on ink for your printer. And like most people, you probably never thought used coffee grinds could be the solution to that problem. But someone thought that. Thus, we have the concept for the RITI Coffee Printer, which is billed not only as a quirky, creative and cost-effective system but also an eco-friendly one. Repurpose your coffee and cut down on wasted materials at the same time.

Researchers Unveil Flexible Solar Cell Roof Shingles
Inhabitat
The folks at Inhabitat uncovered a cool product developed by researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory: Flexible and moisture-resistant solar-power-generating roof tiles. Used like shingles, these are a great way to put otherwise wasted space to good use without adding the clunkiness of huge solar panels to your home.