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When you’re preparing to sell a house, it’s important to invest the necessary time and effort into making your property as desirable as possible to potential buyers. This means making upgrades to outdated or out-of-fashion areas of the home, repairing things that you may have neglected in recent years, and, of course, improving your home’s curb appeal. But what is curb appeal, exactly?

The term is tossed around frequently and carries significant power in the real estate world — and getting it right could increase your home’s earning potential by thousands of dollars. Conversely, poor curb appeal may lower your property value and make it harder to sell. But what is the actual definition of curb appeal, and what exactly does curbside appeal include? Read on for everything you need to know in order to boost your curb appeal for your home’s upcoming sale.

What is curb appeal?

Curb appeal is the visual attractiveness of a house as seen from the street. But in the more specialized and ever-changing world of real estate, identifying what curb appeal improvements a homeowner can make in order to increase the attractiveness of their property requires a bit more work.

Freshening up exterior paint, upgrading dated light fixtures, lawn furniture, or mailboxes, and generally keeping the landscaping neat are all good starting points. But beyond those basic steps, spending the time to learn what colors, styles, and features are trending with today’s homeowners is a surefire way to increase your curb appeal — and therefore your home’s overall earning potential.

What can you do to boost curb appeal?

Now that you have a foundational understanding of what curb appeal actually is, what steps should you take into consideration on your journey to maximize curb appeal?

Keep in mind that buyers are looking at a home and imagining themselves living in it. Of course, there will be things that they will want to change once they buy the property, but removing as many barriers to them seeing your house as their dream home will go a long way toward boosting your curb appeal.

Here are some things you should keep in mind — and some of them may surprise you:

• Replace old or outdated exterior hardware: While it may seem trivial, having front door hardware that looks new and on-trend while still playing up the overall character of the home is an important element of curb appeal. The lock and handle set will be the first point of physical contact prospective buyers have with your home, and it can convey a lot about what kinds of stylistic elements are likely to await them behind the door.
• Install updated outdoor lighting: Like with hardware, new outdoor lighting can work wonders when trying to boost your curb appeal. Not only does this help prospective buyers see the level of care and attention to detail you put into your home, it also can literally help people see your home better during early morning and evening hours. With this one small change, you’re instantly showcasing your home to even more potentially interested passersby.
• Paint your front door: A bold pop of color on your front door can completely change the overall character of your home—and doing so is very fashionable at the moment. But even if a bright color doesn’t seem to suit your house, taking the time to refresh the paint on your front door can do a lot to make a good impression on prospective buyers.
• Tidy and simplify: In order to make your home appealing to as many different people as possible, it’s a good idea to clean up and strip down your landscaping and exterior décor. Make sure your lawn is well kept, hedges, trees, and shrubbery are neatly shaped, and furniture or landscaping decorations are as minimal and tasteful as they can be. Doing so will ensure that no one is put off by a very unique personal statement piece before even entering your home.
• Enhance the greenery: Even if you’re not much of a gardener, now is a great time to get some easily maintained planters or window boxes. These are small touches that make a house look like an ideal home to most buyers. You don’t need to go crazy on this one — just look for a few opportunities to bring a bit more seasonally appropriate life to your property’s exterior.
• Seek advice from your real estate agent: If you’re feeling a little out of your depth in this area, trust in your agent to know how to improve your home’s curb appeal. Not only are they able to provide an objective third-party assessment of your home, but they’re also experts in knowing what buyers in your area are looking for and what exactly will make your home most competitive in the current market. From paint colors to hardware to staging your outdoor furniture, your agent will be able to provide concrete steps for you to take in order to boost your curb appeal.

It’s possible that all of this work seems overwhelming — you’re preparing to sell your home, not trying to become fluent in today’s home décor or landscaping trends. And while it certainly is extra work at a moment when your plate already feels very full, taking the time to increase your curb appeal can have a serious impact on the number of showings you get, the quality of prospective buyers you draw in, and the amount of money they’re willing to put down in order to secure their place as your home’s next owner.

Related: What home improvements tax deductible?

What's the first step in creating curb appeal?

Now that you have a better understanding of what curbside appeal includes, hopefully the process is less daunting. Remember, the definition of curb appeal is simply increasing the attractiveness of your home when viewed from the street. And while you could invest a lot of money into this project, you certainly don’t have to.

Start by improving and tidying what’s already there — clean up your landscaping and mow the lawn, weed garden beds, and give windows, hardware, and other surfaces a good cleaning. Once everything is in the best shape it can be in, take a step back and decide where your money and effort could most quickly elevate your curb appeal. If you’re at a loss, trust your Realtor to know what to do.