What is Curb Appeal and Why Does It Matter?

If you’re looking to sell your house, then its curb appeal could end up being just as important as its interior design and layout when it comes to getting the best price. And to help you understand why, we’re going in-depth on the topic, including answers to questions like “what is curb appeal anyway?” and “just how important is it?”—plus some quick and budget-friendly tips for improving your curb appeal and getting more enjoyment out of your home’s exterior.

So, what is curb appeal and why does it matter so much? Here’s what every homeowner needs to know about this often overlooked home selling essential.

What is curb appeal?

Curb appeal refers to the exterior design and features of your home. Think of it like your home’s first impression, with the exterior giving potential buyers (or even just people who are walking through your neighborhood) a sneak peek at the quality of home that they might be able to find inside.

The more attractive the exterior of your home, the more curb appeal it has. This goes beyond the architectural style of your house and encompasses various capital improvements that you might have made while living there, including things such as:

• • Landscaping, including the appearance of your lawn, trees, and plants
  • Lighting design
  • The color and quality of your exterior paint and/or siding
  • The quality of your roof
  • The style of your front door
  • Additional exterior features like a front or rear porch, water feature or pool, or fire pit

  When coming up with a tidy response to “what is curb appeal?”, it’s important to think beyond improvements and additions. The attractiveness (or lack thereof) of your home’s exterior has as much to do with maintenance and the quality of materials that you use as it does with targeted updates. For this reason, it’s important to invest in and take great care of your home’s exterior, particularly if you have plans of going on the market in the near future.

  Curb appeal by the numbers

  Owning a home comes with a lot of different cost factors, from regular home repairs and maintenance projects to design and remodels. It can be tough to figure out where you need to prioritize your spending, but these curb appeal statistics show that there’s a lot of value to dedicating at least some of your yearly budget to your home’s exterior.

  Here’s what the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) 2018 Remodeling Impact Report has to say about the importance of curb appeal and how it can increase the value of your property:

  • • 100% of costs related to landscape maintenance and tree care are recovered at the time of sale.
    • 99% percent of NAR members believe that curb appeal is important in attracting a buyer (79% say that it’s very important; 20% say that it’s somewhat important).
    • 97% of NAR members believe that curb appeal is important to a potential buyer (66% say that it’s very important; 31% say that it’s somewhat important).
    • 94% of realtors have suggested to sellers that they improve their curb appeal before listing their home on the market.
    • Among homeowners who invest in curb appeal, 75% say they have a greater desire to be home since completing the project, 59% say they have an increased sense of enjoyment when they are at home, and 63% say they feel a major sense of accomplishment when they think of the project.

    As for the dollars and cents of exterior improvements, that depends. How much you spend on curb appeal will have as much to do with the size, age, and condition of your home as it will with the quality of materials that you use. Labor is a big cost factor too, and the cost of curb appeal will go up if you decide to hire professionals instead of undertaking the job yourself. (Though it’s worth noting that some improvements are best left to the pros, such as repainting the exterior of your home.)

    Exact numbers can and will vary, but here’s what Brick and Batten has to say about the average costs involved in a major exterior home makeover:

    • • Exterior painting – Average cost: $2,802.
      • Home landscaping – Average cost: $3,240 (though you can make major landscaping improvements while spending a lot less than this).
      • Trim painting – Average cost: $235.
      • Front porch railing – Average cost: $600.
      • Exterior home decorations (including porch furniture, lighting, and miscellaneous additions) – Average cost: $800.

      There are also more costly additions that you can make, such as adding on a brand new front porch or rear deck, or having a new fence or pool installed.

      Don’t get discouraged though by high price tags. Boosting curb appeal doesn’t have to be a costly endeavor, and there are plenty of things that you can do if you’re working with a tight budget—especially if you’re willing to do the labor yourself.

      7 low cost curb appeal ideas

      There’s good news for the homeowner on a budget, which is that it’s absolutely possible to make serious curb appeal improvements without spending an arm and a leg. And to prove it, we’re sharing some of our best budget-friendly tips for improving your home’s street appeal without spending a lot in the process.

      Spring clean from the outside in
      

      Rake, mow, prune, and weed
      

      Update your front door
      

      Decorate and declutter
      

      Add window boxes
      

      Clean up your driveway
      

      Bring in new light fixtures
      

      The answer to “what is curb appeal?” is going to vary from home to home and neighborhood to neighborhood. Focus on the improvements that not only bring you joy (and the promise of a good return on investment) but that also look great in accordance with your home’s general surroundings.

      Even if you’re not planning on selling your house any time soon, boosting your curb appeal is a great way to love your home even more than you already do. So whether you spend big or not, include exterior maintenance and improvement projects in your budget and do what you can to great a “wow” worthy exterior.