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Affordable Exterior Updates at the Flip House

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Last Updated on January 12, 2024 by lindseymahoney

While the bulk of our budget went to interior projects at the Toledo flip house, I tackled some affordable exterior updates as well. The curb appeal of a house is incredibly important when selling a property. When flipping a house, investors are always considering their bottom line, so I had to get thrifty with some of these projects to keep our costs low.

Here is what the property looked like before any exterior updates.

Affordable exterior updates to consider for your house | Building Bluebird
Photo credit: Mary Wyar

And here it is after we updated the exterior of the house.

Table of Contents

Exterior Updates to Improve Curb Appeal

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New Roof

There was no way around installing a new roof and it was the first project we tackled. The original roof was in bad shape and needed to be completely scraped and replaced.

Affordable exterior updates to consider for your house | Building Bluebird

While I would not consider this an “affordable” update, it was necessary for the structural integrity of the home. I chose a charcoal shingle color and it already makes the house look so much better! The gutters also needed to be replaced.

Affordable exterior updates to consider for your house | Building Bluebird

Tree Removal

Before we closed on the property, we had to remove multiple trees in the backyard. One of the trees was leaning on the neighbor’s house and we could not get insurance if it was not removed before closing on the property. It was a pretty quick fix, but we paid about $1,000 for removal.

Affordable exterior updates to consider for your house | Building Bluebird

Paint the Fascia Board Trim

To save on cost, I kept the same paint color on the fascia (trim) around the house. I color-matched the chipped paint at Home Depot to keep a cohesive look with the window trim. With the new roof and gutters, the paint is really making this house pop when you walk past!

Additional Exterior Paint Projects

Along with freshening up the trim boards, I also painted the garage door black. The side porch will get a fresh coat of paint along with the shutters and attic vent above the garage. Taking on paint projects yourself is an excellent way to save money with exterior improvements.

Affordable exterior updates to consider for your house | Building Bluebird

New Front & Back Door

We installed a new, Craftsman-style front door and painted it a welcoming green that matches the side porch.

Affordable exterior updates to consider for your house | Building Bluebird

I also had the back door replaced because it was completely rotted.

Affordable exterior updates to consider for your house | Building Bluebird
Affordable exterior updates to consider for your house | Building Bluebird

Clean out the Flower Beds

Clearly defining your flower beds and creating a defined edge is an easy and affordable exterior update that you can do yourself. The flower beds at our flip house needed a lot of love.

Affordable exterior updates to consider for your house | Building Bluebird

I weeded the garden bed, trimmed the holly bush, pulled down the ivy, and added fresh mulch.

Affordable exterior updates to consider for your house | Building Bluebird

I didn’t spend a fortune on new plants, but I was able to show potential buyers that the home is cared for and they have a clean slate to work with.

Affordable exterior updates to consider for your house | Building Bluebird

Thanks for checking out the affordable exterior updates we accomplished at our Toledo flip house! Check out the laundry room/mudroom transformation at this cute bungalow.


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