{"id":16897,"date":"2020-05-27T11:37:43","date_gmt":"2020-05-27T18:37:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=16897"},"modified":"2026-04-07T11:20:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T18:20:10","slug":"homes-with-great-curb-appeal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/homes-with-great-curb-appeal\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Homes With Great Curb Appeal and the Stories Behind Them"},"content":{"rendered":"

When it comes to selling your home, a pleasing exterior isn\u2019t just a nice to have, it\u2019s a money maker. In a 2019 HomeLight survey, over 90% of agents<\/a> agreed that great curb appeal will add directly to a seller\u2019s bottom line.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe goal is to have your home win the beauty contest when the listing comes out,\u201d says Phoenix agent Andrew Monaghan<\/a>, who\u2019s sold 77% more single family homes than the average agent in his area. \u201cYour exterior has to be photogenic for somebody to stop and take that second look.\u201d<\/p>\n

But great curb appeal isn\u2019t one-size-fits-all. HomeLight spoke to leading agents across the country about some of their favorite properties and how the owners achieved the look. Start taking notes \u2014 because with the right inspiration, achieving that picture perfect exterior shot is easier than you think.<\/p>\n

Home #1: Lush greenery and landscaping<\/b>
\n<\/i><\/h2>\n
\"A<\/a>
<\/a> Source: (Steve Mueller<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What makes this curb appeal great<\/h2>\n

Owners of this Charlotte, North Carolina property were ready to roll out the green carpet to potential buyers. \u201cTo have really green grass in North Carolina, you have to continuously care for it,\u201d explains Steven Mueller<\/a>, a top-selling agent in the local area. \u201cA lot of preparation went into this home.\u201d<\/p>\n

The owners of this property were lawn maintenance fanatics, tending to their lawn seasonally to ensure it\u2019d be emerald green when the time came to plant the for-sale sign in the yard.<\/p>\n

Mueller sells properties faster than 50% of the agents in his area, and he knows firsthand how preparation pays off. In a recent HomeLight report<\/a>, it\u2019s estimated that spending under $300 in lawn care services can yield an astounding 352% ROI.<\/p>\n

In addition to the well-cared-for lawn, the landscaping treads the line between visually impressive and low maintenance. The trimmed shrubs look good, but are \u201ceasy to maintain and won\u2019t intimidate buyers,\u201d Mueller says.<\/p>\n

Finally, the freshly painted door gives buyers a memorable first impression of the property. The seller, a designer by trade, picked the color herself, but Mueller recommends \u201ca door that pops. At a minimum, the door just needs to be freshly painted, and not faded by the sun.\u201d<\/p>\n

How to achieve the look:<\/h3>\n

Plan ahead with lawn care. <\/b>
\n<\/b>If you want to attract buyers with a lush lawn<\/a>, you need to plan at least a year in advance, says Mueller. \u201cYou need to continually seed and fertilize the lawn.\u201d You can\u2019t fake a good lawn fast unless you want to spend between $500-$800 per 1,000 square feet<\/a> on turfgrass.<\/p>\n

Keep shrubs trimmed and tidy. <\/b>
\n<\/b>If you have shrubs on your property, you\u2019ll want to trim them two to three times a year<\/a> to prevent unhealthy growth.<\/p>\n

Paint your door so it pops. <\/b>
\n<\/b>A freshly painted door<\/a> is an affordable way to add value to your property. \u201cYou really want that front door to look nice whenever people pull up to the house,\u201d says Mueller, who often suggests sellers prep their home with a bright blue or red door.<\/p>\n

Home #2: A dream porch for all seasons<\/h2>\n
\"A<\/a>
<\/a> Source: (Steve Mueller<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What makes this curb appeal great<\/h2>\n

An inviting porch is \u201chighly sought after,\u201d in Mueller\u2019s Charlotte market. A well-staged porch<\/a> can make buyers feel like they\u2019re already living in the home before they even go through the door. Showing off a porch adds usable square footage to the house, in the eyes of the buyers.<\/p>\n

But a porch has to look pristine to pay off. When Mueller got to the property, the porch floorboards were weathered with age, and what would otherwise be a nice seating area was fully exposed to the street. That required some elbow grease from the sellers, and a few well-placed shrubs.<\/p>\n

The yard doesn\u2019t have the greenest lawn or brightest flowers, but the added space out front helps set the stage for the property. With additional planters and tidily trimmed shrubs for privacy, buyers can envision using the space and get excited about the home before stepping inside.<\/p>\n

How to achieve the look:<\/h3>\n

Add planters and shrubs for privacy. <\/b>
\n<\/b>The porch is outside and exposed to the street in the front yard, but the well-maintained shrubs and potted plants<\/a> on the porch help create a sense of privacy.<\/p>\n

Install a ceiling fan to extend life on the porch. <\/b>
\n<\/b>Installing a ceiling fan is an affordable way to add value to your porch, Mueller says. \u201cIt gets hot here in the summer, so a fan extends the amount of time you can use a porch.\u201d Installing a fan costs between $75-$150<\/a>, but can make your porch feel immensely more liveable.<\/p>\n

Freshly pressure washed and stained floorboards. <\/b>
\n<\/b>Pressure wash your softwood or concrete porch<\/a> to restore it to its former glory and slap on a fresh coat of solid stain or paint on the porch floor<\/a>. It\u2019s an affordable afternoon project that\u2019ll make the space look fresh. \u00a0 \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Home #3: No lawn curb appeal<\/h2>\n
\"A<\/a>
<\/a> Source: (Drew Coleman<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A<\/a>
<\/a> Source: (Drew Coleman<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What makes this curb appeal great<\/h2>\n

This unique property channels some serious Sleepless in Seattle <\/i>vibes, explains top-selling Portland, Oregon real estate agent Drew Coleman<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But, when there\u2019s no curb to speak of, how do you create curb appeal? Coleman set up a front door vignette that \u201cwas really more of the curation process of removing and working with the seller\u2019s existing furnishing,\u201d and focused energies on the back entry, accessible only by boat.<\/p>\n

Coleman recognized the houseboat wasn\u2019t for everyone, but he used curb appeal to highlight the surroundings, blending where the home ends and the view begins.<\/p>\n

How to achieve the look:<\/h3>\n

Match exterior staging to the home\u2019s style. <\/b>
\n<\/b>Coleman and his seller client worked with an interior designer to stage the entire home<\/a>, making sure the laid-back coastal vibes of the interior were reflected on the exterior.<\/p>\n

They wanted it to feel like a \u201cstate of constant vacation,\u201d Coleman says. By selecting a few seaside treasures, like driftwood and seaglass, and avoiding personal mementos, they told a story that everyone could understand.<\/p>\n

Showcase the show-stopping elements.<\/b>
\nIf you\u2019ve got a view, flaunt it. Coleman staged both the front and back as liveable outdoor spaces not only to add to the square footage of the property, but to showcase the amazing views on the water.<\/p>\n

If there\u2019s an element of your property, such as a vista or one of a kind view, that makes it unique, find a way for buyers to linger there. Adding outdoor furniture to the back patio makes it feel like another room in the home, while also inviting the buyer to take in the serene view.<\/p>\n

Add thematic pops of color. <\/b>
\n<\/b>The bold blue door<\/a> makes this property pop and appears repeatedly in the exterior. \u201cIt helps people think about the water,\u201d explains Coleman.<\/p>\n

Home #4: Tidy trees and defined beds<\/h2>\n
\"A<\/a>
<\/a> Source: (Steve Mueller<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What makes this curb appeal great<\/h2>\n

Not every home will have a picture-perfect lawn, in fact 69% of homeowners<\/a> say their lawn needs improvement. However, tidily trimmed trees and well-organized beds will go a long way, says Mueller.<\/p>\n

On this flipped property, the lawn is neatly trimmed, but it\u2019s not golf course green. To counteract the somewhat patchy lawn. \u201cWe laid down a good hardwood mulch in the beds,\u201d explains Mueller. \u201cWe sold that in a couple of days. Our main focus was defining beds around the house.\u201d<\/p>\n

How to achieve the look:<\/h3>\n

Clearly define and edge the beds. <\/b>
\n<\/b>Create borders, or an edge<\/a>, along the sides of your garden beds to give them a professional finish that visually divides the property and makes it appear larger. You can use edging materials<\/a> or a manual garden edger<\/a> along the sides of the beds to achieve this look.<\/p>\n

Use plenty of mulch. <\/b>
\n<\/b>Mulch will work wonders on landscaping and the ROI isn\u2019t too shabby either. According to a HomeLight survey, sellers can expect a 126% ROI<\/a> for this home improvement project, and 84% of those agents surveyed recommend laying down mulch before putting a home on the market.<\/p>\n

Keep the lawn tidy. <\/b>
\n<\/b>A patchy lawn looks even worse when it\u2019s overgrown. No matter its condition, keep your grass uniformly trimmed between 2.5 and 3 inches long<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Home #5: Inviting lighting and a welcoming exterior<\/b><\/h2>\n
\"A<\/a>
<\/a> Source: (Drew Coleman<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What makes this curb appeal great<\/h2>\n

The challenge for this impressive property was crafting the exterior to complement its grandeur without going overboard.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe went with an open and airy approach to the front, as not to detract from the amazing scenery views,\u201d says Coleman. The sellers kept the exterior simple but tidy to ensure it wouldn\u2019t turn away buyers who were wary of high-maintenance yards.<\/p>\n

While the property was in good condition before listing, Coleman drove the sellers to put in work tidying up the exterior of the home and cleaning up the cobblestones.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe always joke that we tend to have the most tired clients on the day we list, but the happiest at the closing table,\u201d Coleman says. \u201cWe do a lot of prep, since there\u2019s no second chance to make a first impression.\u201d<\/p>\n

How to achieve the look:<\/h3>\n

Make the driveway look pristine. <\/b>
\n<\/b>Your home\u2019s driveway<\/a> is like the red carpet onto the property, and if it\u2019s well maintained, it\u2019ll set the stage for what\u2019s to come. Rent a pressure washer<\/a> for about $30 a day from Home Depot to blast away dirt build-up, moss, and other accumulation to \u201clighten and brighten the entrance,\u201d recommends Coleman.<\/p>\n

Use warm lighting. <\/b>
\n<\/b>Coleman turned up the wattage on the outdoor lighting<\/a>, using LED bulbs<\/a> for a \u201cmuch higher output range, which allows you to have very bright exterior lights without overdoing the bulb.<\/p>\n

Upgraded shutters and garage. <\/b>
\n<\/b>\u201cShutters are an inexpensive trick that can be added to provide some contrast to the front of the home,\u201d Coleman says. \u201cHomes can look like big boxes, and shutters can break them up.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to shutters, a new garage door is one of the best dollar for dollar exterior projects a seller can take on. According to Remodeling Magazine<\/i><\/a>, a new garage door will recoup 97.5% of its value<\/a>.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Amazing curb appeal not only attracts more buyer attention, but it also pays off big time. \u201cIf you want to improve curb appeal yourself, it’s an easy DIY project,\u201d Mueller says. \u201cIt\u2019s also not that expensive to have a group of folks come out and do it in a day.\u201d Whatever route you choose, any project that helps your house sell for more and attract offers without too much effort is a project we can get behind.<\/p>\n

Header Image Source: (Artazum \/ Shutterstock)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Great curb appeal isn\u2019t one-size-fits-all \u2014 here are 5 examples of stunning home exteriors with actionable get-the-look tips.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":99,"featured_media":16910,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[320,246],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16897","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-add-value","category-curb-appeal"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n5 Homes With Great Curb Appeal and the Stories Behind Them<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Great curb appeal isn\u2019t one-size-fits-all \u2014 here are 5 examples of stunning home exteriors with actionable get-the-look tips.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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