“Curb
Appeal” is the impression your home's exterior conveys
to the casual observer from the street. Your home’s exterior creates
an emotional desire to own a home in the Crosswinds’ neighborhood
and to live the lifestyle it represents. Maintaining your home’s
curb appeal is one of the safest investments you can make.
So how can you measure your
home’s curb appeal? First, stand in the street in front of your home and
assess its condition and appearance. Look at your property with a critical
eye. View your property from various angles. Is the roof in good shape?
Are there any obvious problems with the structure or the trim around the
door or the windows? Is the landscaping in good shape? Are there any obvious
detractions? What repairs can be made? Also look at your property at night.
Does the lighting work and is it effective? If you need some creative
suggestions, don’t be afraid to ask friends, family, neighbors, landscapers,
or anyone known for providing painfully objective feedback.
Then develop a "To Do"
list to enhance your home's overall image. Many of these suggestions are
pretty simple. Some are more involved. Some you may never have thought
of. Boosting your home's curb appeal might be as simple as replacing a
broken screen, or trimming a dead branch, or trimming a hedge. To help
improve your home’s curb appeal as well as the neighborhood’s attractiveness,
consider the checklist below.
Does your Crosswinds home
have "Curb Appeal"?
Crosswinds
"Curb Appeal" Check List:
How does the paint look? If it’s been more than 5 years since you
last painted, then consider a fresh coat. Choose a color scheme
that sets your home apart from others on the block, but doesn't
clash with the Crosswinds neighborhood. If in doubt, seek a neighbor’s
opinion.
Do you have roof stains? Consider a new roof. A new roof can make
a huge difference. Colored roofs shingles can add contrast and texture
to your home's look. And new ridge-vents can save you money on your
cooling bills.
Are your roof gutters sagging? If they’re looking old and weathered,
consider a non-clogging, leaf-tolerant replacement.
Avoid using the front of your home for storage.
Do not park vehicles on front lawns in Crosswinds.
Keep your driveway, and walkways clean and clear of debris.
Avoid parking vehicles on the street in front of your home for extended
periods.
How does your home look at night? Is your exterior lighting adequate
and functioning properly?
Shutters are a great place to add vibrant accent colors, but be
sure to use a paint color that will go well with the color of the
siding.
If you have visible patio furniture, BBQs, or playground equipment,
be sure it is in good repair.
Keep the grass cut, and trimmed. Pull weeds regularly. Plant some
flowers.
Keep over grown trees and bushes cut back.
Trim shrubs so that windows and doors are not hidden.
Keep tree limbs or pine needles off your roof. Dispose of dead &
dying branches.
Keeping the garage doors closed or keeping a clean garage can also
help.
Remove trash cans or recycling bins from the street, as soon as
possible.
Consider applying a fresh layer of pine straw, mulch, and/or bark
to natural areas.
Clean all windows, inside & out, including the frames.
Replace old, rusty mail boxes or leaning posts in a style that suits
the house and the Crosswinds neighborhood.
Consider painting the mail box post in a color consistent with the
main house.
If not used recently, put outside toys away.
Repair or replace any faded house numbers. Curb-painted house numbers
may need repainting.
Pressure wash the exterior of your home to remove dirt & mildew,
etc.
Driveways, sidewalks, and other items can also be pressure washed.
How does the garage door look? If you have to replace it, consider
a sectional garage door with interesting windows.
Polish your brass knockers, lanterns, house numbers, kick-plates,
and doorbell buttons, etc.
Make sure all exterior lights are in working order. Replace aging
fixtures. New fixtures can have a dramatic affect on the overall
appearance.
Consider replacing and/or updating your front door. The front door
is one of the most prominent details of your house. Modern construction
materials such as metal and fiberglass have replaced wood as the
builder’s first choice.
Cut-glass storm doors can be BOTH practical and elegant.
Take pictures of your home from the street and share them with others
for their opinions. Take pride in your Crosswinds neighborhood!
Summary note: The look of
your home starts with the neighborhood, works its way to your yard and
culminates at the front of your home. The steps that we take to ensure
that our homes look attractive and inviting are definitely worth the effort.
Our property-values are directly related to how our community looks and
feels. ‘Curb appeal’ affects property values. Paying attention to curb
appeal makes sense for Crosswinds.
Crosswinds
"Curb Appeal" Sweepstakes
The Crosswinds HOA hosts a
neighborhood-wide “Curb Appeal” Sweepstakes. Every homeowner has a chance
to win. The HOA awards TWO (2) $75.00 Home Depot Gift Cards based on a
single winning ENTRY selected at random from all Crosswinds “Curb Appeal”
homeowner entries. One gift card will be awarded to the NOMINEE and the
other gift card will be given to the NOMINATOR. So vote today!
Purpose: To promote homeowner pride and postive neighborhood appearance
in the Crosswinds community.
Sweepstakes Rules:
- One entry per household.
- Must be a resident of Crosswinds.
- Cannot vote for your own address.
- An entry can be submitted at anytime between now and the sweepstakes
deadline.
- No anonymous entries.
- Entries MUST contain the “Curb Appeal” nominee’s address
- Entry MUST contain the name & address of the submitter.
- Entries MUST be submitted via e-mail to: CurbAppealSweepstakes@CrosswindsHOA.org
- If more than one entry is submitted by a household, then ONLY the most
recent entry will be considered. (In case you change your mind.)
Homeowners are encouraged to nominate a Crosswinds address that demonstrates
‘exceptional’ care for the overall exterior appearance of their yard
AND their home that can be viewed by the casual observer from the
street. By definition, ‘curb appeal’ is not limited to landscaping, but
includes the "whole package".
The Crosswinds HOA will draw one lucky entry at random from the pool of
all submitted entries. The more entries a particular address receives
the better the odds for that particular address. Based on the winning
entry, two $75 gift cards will be awarded, one to each of the addresses
on that entry.