Easy ways to increase curb appeal

Key takeaways

• According to a National Association of Realtors report on outdoor features, 97% of NAR members believe curb appeal is important in attracting a buyer, and 92% have suggested sellers improve it before listing. 
• Maintenance-level projects deliver the highest return on investment: standard lawn care service recovers 217% of its cost at resale, while landscape maintenance returns 104%, according to the same NAR report. 
• For summer and fall sellers, the most effective curb appeal strategy pairs low-cost seasonal upkeep (deep watering, mulch refreshing, leaf management, exterior lighting) with targeted upgrades like a fresh front door, paint touch-ups and updated fixtures. 

Curb appeal is the impression your home makes from the street, and it directly affects how buyers feel before they walk through the front door.

A well-maintained exterior signals that the rest of the home has been cared for. A neglected one prompts buyers to start subtracting from the asking price before they step inside.

This article covers how to evaluate your home's curb appeal, which improvements offer the best return, how to make an impact on a limited budget and which upgrades to skip. For a full breakdown of all selling expenses, see the cost of selling a home.

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Sellers listing in summer and fall deal with conditions that spring sellers largely avoid. Summer heat stresses lawns, fades mulch and accelerates weed growth. Late-summer yards can look tired even with regular maintenance.

In early fall, dropping leaves create a cycle of cleanup that resets before every showing. Shorter days push more showings into dusk or evening hours, making exterior lighting a functional requirement rather than a cosmetic extra. Fall sellers also face a narrowing window to capture listing photos while the yard still looks green and full.

Each section below includes specific guidance for sellers listing during these seasons.

Curb appeal is not a cosmetic bonus. It affects buyer interest, the speed of your sale and, in many cases, the appraised value of your home.

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR)'s Remodeling Impact Report on Outdoor Features, 97% of NAR members believe curb appeal is important in attracting a buyer (75% said very important, 22% said somewhat important). Among the same group, 92% have suggested sellers improve their curb appeal before listing.

The effect extends to appraisals. An appraiser evaluates the exterior as soon as they arrive. By the time they reach the front door, they have already formed an initial impression. A home that lacks curb appeal can see its value reduced by as much as 10% to 15%, according to industry estimates, and may sit on the market longer than comparable homes in better exterior condition.

The exterior is the introduction to the home. It sets the tone for the entire showing. Even if the interior is well maintained, a yard with dead patches, faded paint or cluttered walkways will undercut a buyer's confidence before they reach the threshold.

Not all exterior improvements pay back equally. The NAR Remodeling Impact Report on Outdoor Features tracked cost recovery on 11 outdoor projects. Here are the projects most relevant to curb appeal, ranked by the percentage of cost recovered at resale:

Source: NAR Remodeling Impact Report on Outdoor Features

The pattern is clear: Maintenance-level projects return the most. Keeping the lawn mowed, beds mulched, shrubs pruned and edges clean costs relatively little and recovers more than double the investment at resale. A full landscape redesign with new plantings and basic hardscape recovers its cost dollar for dollar.

By contrast, luxury additions like in-ground pools (56% cost recovery) and fire features (56%) return roughly half their cost in most markets. Unless you plan to enjoy those features for years before selling, they are generally not worth the investment for resale purposes.

The NAR/NARI 2025 Remodeling Impact Report (covering interior and exterior projects) found that a new steel front door recovers 100% of its cost at resale, the highest of any project in the report. The top projects Realtors recommended sellers complete before listing were painting the entire home (50% of Realtors recommended it), painting one room (41%) and new roofing (37%).

The front yard is the first thing buyers see, and it sets the price anchor for the entire showing.

A basic lawn care routine is the best curb appeal investment you can make that yields the highest return. Mow consistently, edge along driveways and sidewalks, and keep flower beds weeded. Add fresh mulch around trees and planting beds. Dark-colored mulch, particularly black mulch, creates a clean, well-maintained look that contrasts well with green foliage.

Seasonal flowers add color but keep plantings proportional. A yard that looks like it requires extensive ongoing work can deter buyers rather than attract them. Simple, tidy beds with a few well-placed annuals or perennials outperform elaborate garden designs at resale.

The backyard matters, too. Mow it, clear debris and make the space feel usable. Buyers evaluate the backyard as an extension of their living space, so it should look maintained and inviting rather than like a project.

Summer heat puts lawns under stress. Water deeply but less frequently to encourage deeper root growth and avoid surface-level drought damage. Mow at a higher blade setting during peak heat, typically three to three and a half inches for most cool-season grasses, to shade the soil and retain moisture. Refresh mulch that has faded since spring. Address bare or brown patches with overseeding or sod at least four weeks before your listing date so the repair has time to fill in.

Rake leaves before every showing. A layer of fallen leaves makes even a healthy yard look neglected. Plant fall-blooming perennials like mums, asters or ornamental kale to add color when summer annuals have faded. A green, well-maintained lawn in October signals to buyers that the property has been consistently cared for, not just dressed up for the listing.

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• Water deeply and less frequently in summer to prevent drought stress 
• Mow at a higher blade height during peak heat 
• Mow consistently and edge along driveways and walkways 
• Weed flower beds and refresh faded mulch 
• Prune trees and shrubs so they don't crowd windows or block the front door 
• Plant seasonal flowers that will be blooming during showings (mums and asters for fall) 
• Address bare lawn patches at least four weeks before listing 
• Clear debris from the backyard and make it presentable 
• Rake leaves before every showing during fall 
• Capture listing photos while the yard is still green and full. Summer sellers should photograph before heat damage peaks. Fall sellers should photograph before leaves drop. 

After the yard, a buyer's eye moves to the exterior of the home itself. The facade should look clean, well maintained and consistent in style.

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A fresh coat of exterior paint can change how a home is perceived. Peeling, faded or chipped paint signals deferred maintenance. Even if a full exterior repaint is not in the budget, touching up trim, shutters and windowsills can make a noticeable difference.

For brick homes, limewashing has become a popular alternative to traditional paint. A mineral-based lime paint, such as Romabio, penetrates into the brick rather than sitting on the surface like standard latex. The result is a breathable, natural-looking finish that ages well and does not peel.

A full exterior paint job typically costs $3,000 to $12,000, depending on the size of the home. Summer is generally ideal for exterior painting because warm, dry conditions help paint cure properly. Fall sellers should schedule paint work before temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the minimum for most exterior paints.

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Rent a power washer for the day (about $40) and clean the siding, driveway, sidewalk, front steps and garage door. Oil stains on the driveway and grime on siding are visible from the street and easy to remove. Summer pollen buildup and early-fall leaf stains both respond well to a single power-washing session.

Whatever updates you make outside, they should match the overall feel of the home. A modern front door on a colonial exterior, or fresh landscaping leading into a dated interior, creates a disconnect that can work against the seller.

• Inspect siding, brick, trim and roof for visible wear or damage 
• Touch up or repaint chipped or faded areas 
• Power wash siding, walkways, driveway and garage door 
• For brick, consider limewash or mineral-based paint instead of latex 
• Ensure the exterior style is consistent with the interior 

Small, inexpensive updates often have a larger visual impact than sellers expect.

The front door is the focal point of the home's exterior. A fresh coat of paint in a deliberate, current color draws the eye and signals that the home has been maintained. Choose a color that complements the siding and trim. Whatever the color, the finish should look intentional and fresh.

For a bigger investment, replacing the front door entirely can pay for itself. The 2025 NAR/NARI Remodeling Impact Report found that a new steel front door recovers 100% of its cost at resale.

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Replace worn or dated hardware: house numbers, the mailbox, the porch light and the door knocker or handle. These items cost relatively little but contribute to the overall impression. A clean doormat at the front entrance adds a finished look for under $30.

Exterior lighting affects both daytime curb appeal and evening showings. Replace dim or broken porch lights. If the budget allows, add pathway lights or uplights on trees. Uplighting on mature trees creates a strong visual effect after dark and makes the home look inviting from the street.

For fall sellers, exterior lighting is especially important. As days shorten, more showings happen at dusk or in the evening. A home with no pathway lighting and a single dim porch bulb looks unwelcoming after sunset. Pathway lights, a well-lit porch and accent lighting on architectural features ensure the home presents well regardless of showing time.

If you have a front porch, stage it with a pair of chairs, potted plants (real or high-quality faux) and a clean doormat. The goal is to help buyers picture themselves using the space. Keep seasonal decorations minimal and neutral, since buyers may not share the same preferences.

• Paint or replace the front door 
• Update house numbers and the mailbox 
• Replace the porch light fixture 
• Add a doormat 
• Stage the porch with seating and planters 
• Add pathway or accent lighting if budget allows 
• Keep seasonal decorations minimal and neutral 

Some exterior projects can cost more than they return or actively narrow the buyer pool.

• In-ground pools (in most markets). Pools recover only about 56% of their cost at resale, according to the NAR outdoor features report, and create ongoing maintenance costs that the next owner inherits. In hot-climate markets like South Florida or the Phoenix area, pools are closer to expected. In cooler regions, they can reduce the buyer pool. 
• Elaborate custom features. Custom water features, themed gardens, koi ponds and built-in pizza ovens rarely recover their cost and may deter buyers who do not want to maintain them. 
• Overgrowth and visible neglect. The single biggest curb-appeal negative. Weeds, dead branches, patchy lawn and ragged shrub lines reduce appraisal value and discourage buyers from looking further. 
• Over-planting near the foundation. Trees and large shrubs planted too close to the house create foundation and roof risks that show up on home inspections. Keep medium and large trees at least 30 feet from the foundation. 
• Too much hardscape. Some patio and walkway coverage adds value but covering most of the yard in concrete reads as a maintenance liability and a loss of usable green space. 

If you have a limited budget, focus on the projects with the highest return and lowest cost first:

1. Mow, edge and weed. Cost: essentially free if you already own a mower. Return: the highest of any outdoor project. 
2. Mulch the beds. A few bags of mulch from a hardware store cost under $50 and immediately refresh the appearance of planting areas. Check with local tree removal services, which sometimes offer free or discounted wood chips. 
3. Power wash. About $40 to rent a machine for a day. Clean the driveway, sidewalk, siding and garage door. 
4. Paint the front door. A quart of exterior paint costs under $20. Visible from the street and high impact for minimal effort. 
5. Clean windows and replace worn hardware. New house numbers, a fresh porch light and a clean doormat cost under $100 combined. 
6. Add seasonal flowers. A flat of annuals runs $15 to $30 and provides color for an entire season. Fall sellers should choose mums or ornamental kale for color that lasts through October. 

For sellers with more to invest, exterior painting ($3,000 to $12,000), a new front door (100% cost recovery per the 2025 NAR/NARI report) and professional landscape upgrades (100% cost recovery per the NAR outdoor features report) are the next tier of projects that consistently pay back.

Yes. Appraisers evaluate the exterior of a home as part of their assessment. A home that shows visible neglect on the outside, such as overgrown landscaping, peeling paint or a damaged driveway, can receive a lower appraised value. Conversely, a well-maintained exterior can support the asking price.

Mowing, edging, weeding, adding mulch and cleaning the driveway and walkways. These tasks cost very little (or nothing beyond labor) and have the highest cost recovery of any outdoor project. A fresh coat of paint on the front door is another low-cost, high-impact update.

It depends on the scope of work. Routine maintenance (mowing, mulching, edging, weeding) is manageable for most homeowners. For larger projects like tree removal, irrigation installation or a full landscape redesign, hiring a professional typically produces better results and may be required for safety reasons.

Summer sellers should begin lawn treatments and fertilizing in late spring, at least six weeks before listing, so the yard is at its peak when photos are taken and showings begin. Schedule exterior painting and power washing for a stretch of dry weather.

Fall sellers should begin cleanup and seasonal planting in late summer. Capture listing photos in August or early September while the yard is still green and full. Plan for weekly leaf removal once foliage starts dropping, and install or test exterior lighting before the first evening showing.

This updated article was originally written by Alecia Pirulis.