Curb Appeal Ideas
Curb Appeal 101 —whether you’re preparing to sell your home or just want to make your property more appealing to passersby, you won’t get many approving looks with a pile of junk in your yard. Sometimes you can go blind to your own home’s flaws, but if you’ve been accumulating a stack of scrap wood, yard waste or other items that your local trash collector won’t accept, it’s time to bite the bullet and clean up.
Luckily, all it takes is research and elbow grease to get rid of the junk and make your home instantly more attractive. Here’s how to do it:
Figure Out What You Need — and What You Don’t
If your yard is messy because it’s covered in sporting equipment or other summer gear that your kids have left out in the sun, take some time to go through all of those items to decide what’s worth keeping. Save it if it’s in good repair, and only if it has been used in the past year. If it doesn’t pass muster with either of those criteria, get rid of it.
Determine if Anything is Worth Selling
As the old adage goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Before you throw anything away, take a closer look at the pile of things that you’ve decided to get rid of. See if anyone would be willing to buy your castoffs; things like lawn furniture and sporting equipment might bring you some cash at a garage sale if they’re in good shape. You can also try listing large items like excess construction materials for sale on Craigslist, with the caveat that the buyer needs to haul them away. A local salvage yard or recycling center might be interested in scrap metal or other items, so it pays to call around before heading to the dump.
Call a Towing Company to Remove an Old Car
If you have an old junk car up on blocks in your yard, it’s probably there because you couldn’t figure out how to get rid of it years ago. The best way to deal with an old car is to check with your favorite charities to see if they will accept it as a donation; if they will, most will tow it away for you. If it’s too far gone, call a tow truck and pay the fee to have them haul it away. Remember that most towing companies charge by the mile, so choose the closest junkyard you possibly can. With luck, the money you earn by selling your car for scrap will cover your towing fees.
Haul Everything Else Away
For other large items that you can’t sell or donate, it’s time for a trip to the local landfill. While some municipalities offer bulk trash pickup as part of the package covered by your tax dollars, the level of service varies by community. Call a junk removal company or your municipality to find out how to schedule pick up. You can also ask if they’ll pick up large items for a fee if complimentary service isn’t offered. If not, rent or borrow a pickup truck to take your stuff to the landfill or waste-sorting facility yourself.
You may have to pay for the privilege of dropping off your items, but the cost will be worth the feeling of lightness and relief that washes over you when you return to your newly junk-free yard!
Once you tackle your junk removal project by sorting your items and getting them out of your yard, your home will be more attractive to neighbors and any potential buyers. All you need to do is roll up your sleeves and get started.
