Does Your Ranch Home Curb Appeal Need Improvement?

Living in a ranch home comes with several benefits – it gives you ample time away from the noises of city life and allows you to carry out some form of farming, such as cattle keeping. If you own such a property, you perfectly understand what that means. However, although such homes are mainly constructed upcountry, it does not mean that they have to be in bad condition. It is your responsibility to understand how to improve curb appeal of ranch homes.

Signs That Your Ranch Home Needs Improvements

You have been living on your ranch abode for quite a while now. This implies that besides comprehending how to improve curb appeal of ranch homes, you should know which signs and indications to look out for to tell when the improvements are required. If that feels overwhelming to you, it would be wise to read this section keenly to get a clear picture of such signs, as discussed below:

Leaking Roofs

Of course, this had to be the first item on this list because the roof plays a pivotal role in your ranch home. Besides offering protection from the natural elements, the roof contributes significantly to the property’s structural integrity. You can compare a leaking top to a time bomb in the sense that it increases the chances of your property breaking down if the leakages are not repaired early enough. If you have cattle or horse sheds on your ranch property, you should also be aware of their roofs’ conditions to ensure that your animals are safe.

The Property Feels Too Small or Too Big

There comes a time when you feel that the belongings you have in your ranch home occupy so much or so little space. In such a case, the ideal decision would be to ensure that you either minimize or increase the living space to accommodate all your essentials. This is particularly critical because maybe you never accurately projected your family’s needs after several years before purchasing the property.

When you think of how to improve curb appeal of ranch homes, you need to consider the size of your family and how many belongings you store there. Ranch homes are different from family homes. In most cases, a smaller living space feels much better because not all your family members will be living there. Nonetheless, if you plan your ranch home to be your official family residence, you must consider how much room you need to add, depending on how many people live there.

How is the Paint?

Living in a ranch house does not mean you have to look at empty or dirty walls. One of the best signs that tell you it’s time to improve the curb appeal of your ranch home is if you notice worn down, chipped, and dirty paint on any part of the property. This means you have to check the paint on the interior and exterior of the building to ensure that it looks good. If it does not look good to the eye, it is time to understand the different techniques on how to improve curb appeal of ranch homes. Dingy and dirty paint, especially on the property’s exterior, shows that the elements are negatively affecting your ranch home, which is not a good image.

Insects and Pests

As mentioned before, your ranch home is most probably constructed in the upcountry region. Unlike in the city, these remote areas are prone to different pests, insects, and other animals that may be attracted by the livestock and plants on your farm. One of the significant mistakes that ranch homeowners make is thinking that infestation by such animals indicates that their properties are built with low-quality materials. That can be true to some extent, but it is not the ultimate explanation of why insects and pests come to your home. Their presence could be a result of dirty, messy, and unkempt spots on the property. That means it is time to have the ranch home renovated to keep insects and pests, such as termites and mosquitoes away from the property.

How is the Floor?

One of the points you can never miss when it comes to an understanding of how to improve curb appeal of ranch homes is the condition of the floor. It is among the first parts of the property you see whenever you wake up in the morning. Therefore, it would be wise to ensure that part of the building is in the right order. Checking the condition of the floor goes beyond confirming that the floorboards are healthy. It also entails replacing and remodeling worn-out carpets. Additionally, you need to be vigilant of worn-out, dirty, cracked, stained, or dented tiles to ensure that they are in perfect condition.

Recurring Drainage Issues

It is called recurring because you may have some work on your drainage system that was done poorly. In such a case, you need to check how the drainage system fairs to ensure that it works as effectively as possible. Pipe leaks, sink blockages, and faucet issues are some of the warnings to look out for if you want to know when your ranch home needs some improvements and renovations. Waste from the kitchen, bathroom, and toilet could make its way to the foundation, which is a severe threat to the structural integrity of the entire building.

The Necessity to Modernize

Your ranch home needs to be as modern as other properties that individuals own today. It would be inadvisable to live in a home that does not have an HVAC system because it is constructed in the upcountry. Therefore, a need to modernize the property becomes a critical indicator that you have to conduct some renovation and improvement projects on your ranch home. Energy costs are among the significant contributors to an increase in your utility bills. Therefore, you need to think about upgrading your ranch home by making it more energy-efficient. That is not only money-saving, but it also makes the property achieve a more modern appearance.

Which are the Best Improvement Projects on Your Ranch Home?

Now that you know the signs to look out for, you need to know the best projects to undertake when it comes to how to improve curb appeal of ranch homes. That will be the main discussion in this section of the article. So, you need to buckle up to ensure you gather all the information you may need to ensure that your upcountry property is in the best condition.

Landscaping

Ensuring that the yard is in the most appropriate condition is one of the quantifiable home improvement projects you can conduct on your ranch property, regardless of whether you spend a lot of time there or not. This is most especially important when you are planning on selling a home in the near future. A well-made compound attracts the best buyers in the market, which can boost the return on investment. Landscaping starts by getting rid of any unwanted plants from the yard, which may require you to procure tree removal services in case of old or rotten trees on the compound.

During landscaping, you can also hire a fumigator to ensure that they do their work of spraying the compound for pest control purposes. Landscaping your ranch home is a project you can DIY as long as you have the time. However, it would be advisable to work with an expert in that field to ensure you get the best results. Such professionals will even offer extra services, including laying down a landscape stone to mark your territory. Additionally, they will guide you on the best tips to take care of any plants you may have on the property, such as the ones you have planted in hanging baskets.

Check the Lighting

As much as this property is constructed upcountry or on the outskirts of the city, it does not mean you have to forget about its lighting, which is one of the best ways of how to improve curb appeal of ranch homes. Therefore, it is your responsibility to think about changing your lighting fixtures and upgrading your outdoor lighting in such a way that it can make your neighbors jealous. You can switch from the old bulbs and install new ones to make the place more appealing. As you work on the lighting in your ranch home, you also should remember that the property should be energy efficient. In such a case, you should strongly consider installing energy-efficient bulbs and fixtures as one of the best ways on how to improve curb appeal of ranch homes.

Work on the Exterior

One of the important things that homeowners forget is that the outside is as essential as or even more essential than the inside. Therefore, if you do not make the exterior of your ranch home attractive, you will be contributing so little to the enhancement of its appeal. The exterior of a ranch home can be broad, but you should be vigilant about how you can make it better. Consider procuring patio building services, considering that such a structure could make the place look and feel better. Additionally, if you have a garage in your ranch home, you should ensure it is in the best condition. This would be the best time to consider getting garage door installation services to ensure that your vehicle and any other items in that particular room are safe.

While at it, consider the other doors in your ranch home and find ways to make them better. You may consider installing a door intercom system if you feel threatened by insecurity in the area. Besides enhancing the curb appeal, such features can help boost the property’s value by a significant margin.

Change Windows

The function of the windows comes into play mainly during two seasons of the year – summer and winter. Changing or renovating the windows is among the best ways on how to improve curb appeal of ranch homes. Minor damage to the windows means you will spend less on having them repaired. However, if the damages are extensive, it would be wise to consider buying replacement windows and having them installed by qualified personnel. Fortunately, you can get energy-efficient windows in today’s market, which will play a major role in ensuring that you save money on energy bills. It may cost you a substantial amount to purchase and install such windows, but you will reap excellent financial benefits in the long run.

Replace the Popcorn Ceilings

If you own a ranch home built in the 60s and 70s, you may have noticed that it has an old-fashioned ceiling. There would be no better time to replace such a structure than now, considering that such a ceiling traps dust, brings shadows to the home’s interior, and gives the property an outdated feel. One of the main effects of popcorn ceilings is that they are carcinogenic. This means that the asbestos they contain increases the chances of the building’s occupants developing cancer. This is why it is highly recommended to work with a professional home inspector to help you establish which parts of your ceiling need to be pulled down.

The best way to go about this is by soaking the ceiling with water and letting it settle for a few minutes. That allows the popcorn ceiling to come off easily. A spray bottle works best for this kind of project. After removing the popcorn ceiling using a broad scraper, the next step is to patch up the uneven areas on the remaining ceiling and repaint it using a light color.

Owning a ranch home can be prestigious and offers you a place where you can take some rest from all the hassle and tussle of city life. However, you may not get the maximum satisfaction if the property is not in good condition. That is why it is advisable to understand all the information discussed above. That includes knowing which signs to look out for and the best improvement projects to undertake in regards to how to improve curb appeal of ranch homes.