How To Make Your House The Prettiest On The Block

Your home's main purpose is to provide a safe, comfortable place for you to live. You want it to have a strong foundation, sturdy construction and a roof that never leaks, but let's be honest: you want it to look nice, too.

Fortunately, there are some easy ways to instantly improve your home's curb appeal. Make any of these improvements to your home's exterior, and you'll have the best-looking house on the block in no time.

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Install and Maintain Landscaping

If your lawn is overgrown, filled with weeds or just not well-maintained, it's going to make your whole house appear more run than it actually is. In most climates, you'll want to install any new landscaping in the spring and fall when temperatures are relatively cool. This is also the best time to spruce up any landscaping you may already have, lay down new sod and introduce any new ornamental plants.

Average cost: According to Home Advisor's True Cost Guide, the average homeowner pays between $215 and $320 for lawn-mowing and maintenance. This often includes a cut, weeding, trimming and pesticide treatment.

If you plan to install new landscaping, you can expect to pay more. The cost of landscaping varies greatly, but most homeowners report spending between $1,385 and $5,300.

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Touch Up Your Paint Job

Your home's exterior paint should last five to 10 years, depending on the climate and conditions where you live, but over time, it will inevitably begin to chip and peel. If left untouched, your home's siding could start to rot, mold or warp.

Repairing these weathered spots can make a noticeable difference in the appearance of your home, and it can also help stave off costly siding repairs. Most exterior touch-ups can be completed in a single afternoon.

Average cost: The cost to touch up the paint on the exterior of your home will depend largely on the size of the area in need of repair. Most homeowners pay between $0.50 and $3.50 per square foot to hire a painter for the exterior of their home, according to Home Advisor's True Cost Guide. Your location, the condition of your exterior and ease of access all play significant roles in project pricing.

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Repair Your Roof and Gutters

Missing shingles and sagging gutters are a definite eyesore, and when they go unrepaired, they can also cause expensive problems. Replace those missing shingles before they can lead to bigger roof leaks, and if your gutters are having trouble moving water away from your foundation, have them inspected by a professional.

Average cost: The national average cost to fix broken or missing shingle is $30. Obviously, if you have several shingles missing or a larger area of your roof that's damaged, you can expect to pay more for the repair.

Gutter repair can be costly, but failing to fix the issue now can cause serious damage to your house which requires even more expensive repairs down the line. The average homeowner pays between $175 and $520 to have their gutters professionally repaired. Most variations in cost are due to house height, the type of gutter, gutter length and the type of repair.

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Pressure Wash Your Home

Pressure washing removes dirt and can help prevent mold and mildew infestations. It can be done on almost any surface and is a great way to make your home's siding, deck, patio, fence or driveway look almost brand new again.

Average cost: According to Home Advisor's True Cost Guide, most homeowners pay between $100 and $300 to have their house professionally pressure washed. Pressure washing a deck typically costs between $250 and $500, and pressure washing a driveway is usually between $80 and $200.

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Replace The Front Door

The front door tends to be the centerpiece of your home's exterior. If it's looking weathered or outdated, the rest of your home will, too. Replacing the front door — or even repainting it, if the frame is in good condition — can instantly improve the look of your home's exterior.

Average cost: According to HomeAdvisor's True Cost Guide, the average door installation costs $950, and most homeowners pay between $470 and $1,435. Materials are usually the largest cost factor, followed by the type of door, location and any special framing needs.

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Update Your Shutters

If your existing shutters are tattered or have chipping paint, it diminishes the appearance of all your windows. Replace those neglected shutters. Or, simply apply a new coat of paint to give the face of your home a fresh, well-maintained appearance.

Average cost: Most homeowners pay between $300 and $965 to install new exterior shutters. The number of windows you have and material used account for most of the variations in cost. If your existing shutters are just in need of repainting or minor fixes, you can expect to pay in the range of $120 to $335 to have them professionally repaired.

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More Home & Garden:

• Semi-Annual Home Maintenance Checklist
• Home 101: Gutter Cleaners Near You — And What They Charge
• How Much Does It Really Cost to Remove Leaves?

Source: 7 Projects to Improve Your Home's Curb Appeal