The Luxury of a Paved Surface

The condition of your home exterior and landscaping is one of the first things others notice about your property, which includes the pavement and other hardscaping surfaces. With the amount of competition in the real estate market today, you don't want to neglect any areas within and around your home that might deter the right buyer at a good price. For this reason, it is important to update the exterior of your home, including the landscaping, concrete, and asphalt surfaces. Here are some updates you can make to your property pavement to improve it and increase its value for an upcoming sale on the real estate market.

Clean and Maintain Pavement

Your pavement is the collection point of debris in your yard, which can cause stains and create an eyesore. This debris can include lawn trimmings, soap residue from washing your vehicle, and oil drips from a leaking truck. In addition to debris you inadvertently leave on your pavement, nature adds to the condition with harsh weather and freeze-thaw pattern changes that can cause cracks and spalling in concrete and crumbling potholes in asphalt.

Take some time just before you list your home for sale to clean off your pavement with your garden hose and a sprayer nozzle. If you have a pressure washer, this is a great tool to remove some of the staining on your asphalt pavement. And if you have any vehicle fluid leaks, such as oil, gasoline, and brake fluids, use an asphalt cleaning solvent to scrub them from the surface of your pavement. You can also use kitty litter to soak up excess oils before scrubbing them clean.

Be sure to remove any vegetation growth that sprouts out of cracks in your pavement. In addition to making your yard look shabby, this type of growth can cause excessive wear to your pavement and allow even the smallest crack to grow into a larger hole.

Resurface, Seal, and Protect

If your pavement looks a little gray in color and has lost its dark black color, this is a sign the tar emulsion in the pavement has begun to oxidize and dry out. Your asphalt pavement will benefit from a sealcoating application to improve its appearance and boost your home's value. 

However, if your pavement shows signs of excessive cracking, crumbling, and potholes, it might be time to resurface it in addition to milling the surface of the pavement to remove the damage. This will protect the asphalt and seal it against moisture. Talk to your residential paving contractor for a bid, and consult with your real estate listing agent to get their recommendation for its improvement.