•Increase Your Home's Curb Appeal in 10 Easy Steps!•

Ah, Spring... With its glorious weather and spirit of renewal, it is a chance to ramp up your home's curb appeal.  We here at AJAX have compiled a list of the 10 easiest, low-budget ways to spruce up key elements of your home's exterior.

1. Landscaping 101.
Now is the time to take inventory of your home's landscaping.  Visually inspect the areas needing maintenance (it should need some after all the winter storms).  Prune overgrown shrubs, bushes, trees and plants.  It's time to weed flower beds, add fresh mulch and plant flowers to add the vibrancy of color!  Dave Vandervort's Home Tips site (http://www.hometips.com/) suggests using tall shrubs to accent and frame interesting features of your house and yard.

Even those lacking a green thumb can buy a ready-made pot garden at a supermarket or gardening section of your favourite major retailer.  You can also use hanging planters to add interest and dimension to an entryway.

2. Lawn check.

Reviving your lawn's lush green grass will instantly boost curb appeal.  Get rid of weeds sprouting in the sidewalk.  Are elements from your yard obstructing the view to your house?  Removing a tree that is blocking the view can make just as much of a difference as adding one to liven up a barren landscape.

3. Mailbox makeover

A dingy, rusted or beat-up mailbox is cheap to replace and makes a big difference in setting the tone for your house's exterior.  Make sure the style of the mailbox complements the style of your home.  If the mailbox is mounted on a wooden post, consider applying a fresh coat of paint to freshen its appearance.

4. Squeaky clean siding

The elements take a toll on a house's siding, and it may require a power wash to clean stained or dirty siding. Do-it-yourselfers can get on a ladder, sweep away dirt and hose down the walls (or rent a power washer from a home improvement or rental store).

5. Perfect for paint

It may be too ambitious and time-consuming to paint the entire exterior of your house, but a new coat of paint on smaller areas can make a dramatic difference.  How about painting the trim or wooden shutters?  Other areas that would benefit from a paint makeover include the framing around windows, the porch and garage door.  This is a easy way to make your home look fresh without committing to hours of painting.

6. Pay attention to details

It may seem minor, but little touches like new numbers on a house or a new light above the door improve the overall aesthetic of your home.  Try and look at you home as a passerby might.  Sometimes a homeowner will visually tune out established fixtures, but something as simple as replacing dirty old garbage cans will make a big difference!

7. Spring cleaning

Unfortunately, spring cleaning is not limited to a home's interior.  If there's a baby tree sprouting from your rain gutters, it can be a little distracting from the overall appeal of the house.  It's time to clean out the gutters and wash the windows.

8. Welcoming walkway

Brick or stone can create an elegant walkway leading up to your home.  Better Homes and Gardens suggests applying a colored concrete resurfacer to an old walkway, then edging with brick or stone pavers.  The bhg.com site also suggests using symmetry at the entrance as a simple and effective way to improve curb appeal.

9. Light it up

Lighting at night is a way to add security, as well as highlight the architectural elements of your home.   Landscape lighting or solar fixtures can provide path lighting along a walkway, while porch lights should illuminate the main entrance.  You can also install accent lighting to add dimension or enhance a particular point of interest, like up-lights under a palm tree or behind a fountain.

10. Do the door right

The door is an important focal point of the home, and it's easy to neglect.  If it has become worn, consider refinishing, painting or replacing an old door.  New hardware to replace rusted door handles or an outdated lock set also makes an impact!

The outside of your home is the first thing to greet visitors and offer an impression of what may be inside.  If it fails to inspire from the outset, it lowers expectations for the inside.  Good luck to you, and have fun!