Buyers tend to ignore houses lacking star-quality curb appeal. To catch their attention, take a note out of Hollywood’s book and make your home exude elegance and glamor.

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 92% of real estate agents advise improving curb appeal before sellers list their homes for sale, while 97% believe curb appeal is essential for attracting buyers.

Not only does beautiful curb appeal lure buyers in, but it also encourages them to offer more money for your home. HomeLight’s Top Agent Insights report from last year found that, on average, buyers will pay 7% more for a home with great curb appeal.

“Agents recommended clients invest an average of approximately $3,467 in curb appeal prior to listing their home. In return, agents estimate that clients will yield around $11,718 in resale value for a 238% ROI,” according to the report.

No matter the size of your lot or the style of your house, you can create curb appeal for selling your home that will dazzle buyers and earn a worthwhile return on investment. Here are 32 tips and tricks to design a show-stopping exterior.

Start with a deep clean

Beautiful curb appeal for selling your home begins with the most basic home improvement principle: cleaning. Dirt and grime turn off buyers and can make your home appear in worse condition than it truly is. If your exterior can’t be new, at least make it shine like new.

“It’s important that sellers clean. Buyers make judgments quickly. If they see blatant neglect, they’re critical,” says Don Hammons, a top agent who works with 80% more single-family homes than the average agent in Bellingham, WA. 

Clean up your curb appeal in four simple steps:

1. Rent a pressure washer to power wash the siding, windows, and gutters. Don’t forget to blast the sidewalk, porch, and deck.

2. Wash the windows, inside and out. Hammons suggests removing the screens if they’re not in good condition and storing them for the new owner.

3. Got mold? There are many spray-and-forget-it products made for vinyl siding that attach to your garden hose and allow you to reach the high spots without a ladder.

4. Tidy up your yard and remove clutter, debris, and dead leaves. You don’t have to lift that barge or tote that bale — just think of it as housekeeping for the outdoors.

Give those green thumbs a workout

And if your thumbs aren’t green, hire a professional lawn care service. Basic mowing, trimming, and edging costs $30 to $80, depending on where you live and how big your yard is. Whether you hire a crew or do it yourself, go beyond merely mowing the lawn to make a lasting first impression.

5. Green up your grass by regularly mowing, fertilizing, and watering the lawn. In NAR’s 2023 Remodeling Impact Report, standard lawn care service can yield a 217% cost recovery. 

6. To avoid excess watering in drier regions, invest in a drip irrigation system. Or, add native plants that require little water to thrive in your local area.

7. HomeLight’s Spring 2023 Top Agent Insights Report says landscaping upgrades are everything.

“Agents estimate that a landscaping upgrade adds $7,312 in value. According to HomeAdvisor, the average cost of a landscaping upgrade is $3,455, so homeowners can expect to yield a 112% ROI on this project.

8. Show them the way with a stone paver walkway that winds its way to your entrance. NAR estimates a 100% ROI on adding a stone walkway and upgrading the landscaping. For an affordable alternative, use precast concrete pavers — they’re just as charming as natural flagstones and require less maintenance.