What do you see when you envision your dream home? The exterior details—the home’s style, color, details, and landscaping—communicate a lot about it. Every homeowner wants their home to stand out from the others on the street—and in a good way. Achieving that is all about curb appeal. And research shows that a home with eye-catching curb appeal sells for about 7% more than those that are less attractive on the outside.

Whether you’re shopping for a new home or preparing to put yours on the market, Homes By Dickerson has some factors for gauging this important feature.

The proportions are right.

Have you ever looked at a home and felt there was something out of balance about it? Maybe there was a confusing use of architectural details that did not flow together. The front porch was too small, the front door too large, or the walkway just plain wrong. Possibly the roof lines seemed like someone did not think it through.

Look for proportionality in the home’s exterior design. The gables, siding, dormers, and details should achieve a balance that you can see and “feel”. When there are contrasting sidings, like wood and stone, one should not overwhelm the other.

You will probably sense the lack of good proportions before you can pinpoint it. Take the time to view how the details relate to one another.

Watch the windows.

The placement of windows on a home can be very telling. When they are done correctly, the home has ample windows with symmetrical placement. For example, if you have windows on one side of the front half of the home, there should be two windows on the opposite end. A builder can save money by omitting windows, so it is a telling sign if you see this flaw in the curb appeal.

Paint problems.

When you are looking at a home, the first thing you notice is the style. The second is the color. If the exterior paint color is unappealing to you, you probably will pass on the property to avoid the expense of repainting it.

If the home needs a paint job, you should wonder what other maintenance has been overlooked by the homeowner.

How does the garden grow?

You might be impressed with the curb appeal that comes with stunning gardens. It is beautiful now but ask yourself if you will be able to handle the upkeep. If not, the lovely view from the street will become an overgrown tangle of unsightly plants and weeds.

Look past the home.

You can find your dream home but if the neighbors are not quite as pristine, your curb appeal will have distinct limitations. When you stand back and take in the view of a home, look left, right, and across the street. Are the neighboring homes as visually enticing? Does the neighborhood have a Homeowner’s Association that governs curb appeal? This is an important consideration when deciding on where to invest in your next home.

The Homes By Dickerson solution

You have many choices when it comes to a home builder. In Raleigh, NC, and Charleston, SC, Homes By Dickerson stands out as the one who prefers to give our buyers something that others don’t: Choices. We work with each homebuyer to come up with a home that is the sum of your details, inside and out. When it is done, you don’t just have a Homes By Dickerson residence. It is completely personalized to you.

We curate the designs to start with architecture and features that buyers want, from townhomes to single-family homes, Modern Farmhouse to Contemporary to Coastal. Our floor plans begin the inspiration process. Together, you and Homes By Dickerson bring that vision “home”.