How to Improve Your Commercial Building’s Curb Appeal: A Guide

Think no one is paying attention to the outside of your commercial building? Think again!

One study shows that buildings with good landscaping tend to sell for about 7% more than other comparable buildings.

However, even if you’re not planning on selling your building anytime soon, it’s still a good idea to make sure it has good curb appeal.

After all, given the choice between a clean, well-maintained building or a rundown space with overgrown grass, which do you think your customers would choose?

So, how do you improve your curb appeal? We’re here to help.

Keep reading for a guide to improving curb appeal in a few simple steps.

Start With High-Traffic Areas

When it comes to commercial building curb appeal, it can be overwhelming figuring out how to get started.

Instead of feeling like you have to do everything all at once, start by focusing on high-traffic areas first.

Start by improving the main entrance to the building, the parking lots, and the main walkways. By focusing on what people will notice first, you’ll start out with the most impact.

However, this is not to say you should ignore the rest of your building. Once you’ve improved the high-traffic areas, don’t forget to show some love to the rest of the property.

Incorporate Your Branding

When you’re improving your building’s curb appeal, try to incorporate some of your branding materials on the outside of your space.

Oftentimes, employees and customers alike have associations with your company name and logo. Tap into these associations by putting your logo outside on the building and on exterior signage.

This also helps ensure that people know they’re at the right place when they come to your building. And, if your business relies on walk-in customers, it can help encourage people driving by to stop in and see you.

Pay Attention to Landscaping

A beautiful display of flowers or plants outside a building can instantly make customers feel more at ease when entering your building.

Not only does thoughtful landscaping look great, but it’s something that can help boost a person’s mood, even if only subconsciously.

If you don’t have the bandwidth to keep up with landscaping yourself, look into hiring a company that can come by every few weeks to maintain the grass, plants, and flowers around your building.

Update Security Features

If your commercial building looks unsafe, you’ll have a hard time finding employees and customers. Part of improving your curb appeal means updating security features around your building.

For example, research different commercial gate styles to find something that is both secure and aesthetically pleasing.

This is also a good time to look at the outdoor lighting around your building. Replace any bulbs that have burnt out and look for dark spaces that could use new light.

Bright lights help everyone feel safer, protect your building from possible intruders, and make your building look nicer.

Pressure Wash for a Clean Slate

Have you ever seen those videos online showing the before and after of a building or sidewalk being pressure washed? They’re popular because it’s amazing to see how much water can transform a space.

Hire a commercial pressure washing company to come by twice a year to spray down your building, including the doors and windows.

You might also have them pressure washing the parking lot, sidewalks, and any outdoor common areas to give everything a clean, refreshed look.

This is a great way to make an older building look new, without the need for expensive repairs.

Freshen up With Paint

A fresh coat of paint can have a major impact on your building’s curb appeal. Consider painting your building’s exterior with new paint to give it an instant refresh.

If you’re ready for a change, this is a good time to choose new primary and accent colors, or you can stick with a new coat of what’s already on the building.

If you choose new colors, don’t be afraid to get creative. However, it’s best to use bold colors as accents and use neutrals as the primary paint color.

And don’t forget to repaint the lines in the parking lot as well. This is another simple fix with a big impact.

Repave Sidewalks and Walkways

Are the walkways around your building in need of some TLC? If they’re full of cracks, they’re not only an eyesore, but they could be a dangerous hazard, causing someone to trip and fall while on your property.

If you’re able to, consider repaving the sideways and walkways around your property. This will give them a clean new look, and it will keep people safe as they walk in and out of your building.

If sidewalks near your building fall on public property, you’ll likely need to talk to city officials about replacing those areas.

Add Functional Items

The outside of your building should be more than just an afterthought for the people that come in and out of it. By adding convenient, functional features, the exterior of your building can become a place people use before and after they leave your property.

For example, consider adding bike racks to appeal to those who rely on a bicycle for transportation. If you own an office building, consider putting out picnic tables with umbrellas so employees can eat lunch outside on nice days.

You might also put trash cans outside, so people have a convenient place to dispose of trash as they come and go.

Start Improving Your Building’s Curb Appeal Today

Now that you know more about how to improve your curb appeal, why wait any longer?

Happier employees and customers are just a few steps away. Follow our tips above and watch your business grow.

Looking for more ways to help grow your company? Read through our other helpful articles today and continue to check back often for new content.