Curb appeal

Curb appeal is the first thing anyone sees and the only thing some people will ever judge the house on. It comes down to a few honest signals: a tidy lawn or its replacement, planting beds with defined edges, a clear and welcoming path to the front door, and a little color near the entry.

It carries real weight at resale. Buyers form an opinion before they leave the car, and a yard that reads as cared-for sets the tone for everything inside. The reverse is also true: an overgrown front bed makes a sound house feel neglected.

The good news is that the cheapest moves do the most work. A crisp edge between lawn and bed, a fresh layer of mulch, a trimmed shrub line, and a single strong planting at the door change the whole read for almost nothing.