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(BPT) - Homes with great curb appeal not only make you the envy of every neighbor on your street and provide a great first impression for guests, but they also offer increased value and take less time to sell. There are many simple, quick and low-cost curb appeal improvements that you can tackle over the weekend, or even in a day, to give your home an inviting, uplifting spirit.

Improving your home's curb appeal

Add or repair a fence.

Make the most of your home's appearance by considering the details. Looking for a quick way to spruce up your home's exterior? Adding or repairing a fence to your property is a great value add with a relatively small investment.

In order to determine the perfect fence design for your home, you should first consider the end function you are most concerned with, such as curb appeal, protection from the elements or privacy. While building or repairing a fence can definitely be a DIY project that you tackle on your own, many homeowners struggle trying to ensure their fence gate is sag-free and square.Before starting your project, visit the home improvement retailer near you to purchase a Homax EASYGATE No-Sag Gate Kit to reduce sagging and maintain use and longevity over time. The kit includes everything you'll need to build a custom sized gate, add to a pre-fab gate application or repair a sagging gate.

According to Danny Lipford of Today's Homeowner TV and radio shows, "A sagging gate can be an eyesore and dangerous, but fixing it can be a snap with Homax EASYGATE no-sag gate kit. The kit's standard design works for any home or yard, and installation is incredibly easy because no Z-bracing or angled cuts are required."

Emphasize your home's best features.

Updating window and door trim is a great way to enhance your home's look, style and personality. One simple update can be made by coordinating window trim paint color with your landscaping, window boxes or fence for an integrated look. Painting is one of the most cost-effective ways to update and protect the exterior of your home, with many retailers offering paint under $30 per gallon.

The color of your home's exterior features, such as fences and window boxes, should also be considered when choosing plants to landscape for added curb appeal. Mix things up and strive for four-season color. Additionally, be sure to group your plants so they have plenty of room to spread by researching how tall and wide the mature plants will be.

In addition to your fence and trim, your shutters are also an important exterior feature that contributes to curb appeal. When painting shutters, it is best to use a gloss or semi-gloss sheen to create a spectacular finish. If you want them to stand out, you can even consider painting them in a contrasting color; however, if you prefer they are subtle, paint them just a few shades darker than your house.

Park in style.

Your garage can be an area of both function and beauty, and it is a large surface that can potentially draw attention through color. Choose a garage door style that is most complementary to the architecture of your home, and accentuate it by choosing a color that complements all your exterior elements. One tip is to match your garage door with your home's base color or front door color, especially if it's a dominant part of the front facade.

You can also beautifully highlight the architectural beauty of your garage door by incorporating one of your home's accent or trim colors for an additional point of interest. For an added pop of color, consider matching the garage door color with a subtler part of the exterior, such as your grout color or the darkest tones of your brick or stone.

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