Curb Appeal

A property's curb appeal makes a critical first impression.


FRONT DOOR
A front door can be a home's focal point. Replacing an entryway door with a new steel door (which costs about $1,200) actually offers among the biggest bang for the buck at resale (an average of 73% of the cost may be recouped, according to Remodeling magazine's 2011-2012 Cost vs. Value Report). Sometimes a front door can be salvaged with a fresh coat of paint.

WINDOWS
Wash them - inside and out - and remove the screens for added sparkle. Also, consider a new color for shutters. The trend is a shift away from high-contrast green, red, or black to more monochromatic palettes that blend with the rest of the house.

GARAGEDoes the door need paint or repairs? Should it be replaced? A new steel garage door can cost about $1.500, but sellers, in average, recoup nearly 72 percent of that investment at resale, according to the Cost vs. Value Report.

FRONT PORCH
Don't overlook this key selling point. "Sell" your front porch as additional square footage by staging it with as much care as you would other rooms.

DRIVEWAY
Is the driveway covered with cracks and oil stains? If you can't afford a complete resurfacing (which may cost about $2,000 for concrete driveways), look into patching up cracks using premixed concrete materials.

AFTER DARK
Evening curb appeal also matters. Conceal a couple of portable outdoor lamps and aim them at the house or a beautiful tree for low-cost, high-value impact. Have outdoor lights on a timer so they're always on for nighttime showings. Interior lights, too, work to create a warm glow from the curb.