Updated November 2026. Cost and cost-recovery figures are from NAR’s Remodeling Impact reports (outdoor features, 2023, with the National Association of Landscape Professionals; and 2025, with NARI), read October 27, 2026.
Curb appeal is how your home looks from the street, and it’s the first thing buyers judge. As of October 2026, NAR’s latest outdoor survey found 92% of REALTORS suggest sellers improve curb appeal before listing. The least expensive fixes often pay back best: a $415 lawn care program was estimated to recover $900 at sale (217%), and a new steel front door about 100%.
Jump to: 🏠 What curb appeal is · 💲 What pays back · 🪜 Projects that work · 🌲 North Carolina tips · 📍 By climate · ⏱️ Before you list · ❓ FAQ
Key takeaways
- 97% of REALTORS say curb appeal matters in attracting a buyer; 75% say it’s very important (NAR and NALP, 2023).
- Estimated cost recovery: lawn care 217%, landscape maintenance 104%, an overall landscape upgrade 100% and a new patio 95%.
- A new steel front door led NAR’s 2025 list at 100% cost recovery; a fiberglass door came in at 80%.
- Half of REALTORS (50%) recommend painting the whole home before listing.
Improving curb appeal makes your home nicer to come home to. It also tells buyers, before they open the door, that the house has been cared for. Whether you live in a city suburb or a log cabin, the same rules apply: clean, trimmed, painted and welcoming. Here’s what curb appeal means in real estate, which projects pay back and what to do first if you’re selling soon.
What is curb appeal in real estate?
It’s the impression a home makes from the street: the yard, the walkway, the paint, the roof, the windows and the front door. Buyers see it twice. First in the listing’s lead photo, then when they pull up for a showing.
Both moments count. In NAR’s 2025 buyer survey, 83% of buyers who shopped online rated photos very useful, and most MLSs require the first photo to show the exterior. So the front of your house is literally the cover of your listing.
Agents feel strongly about it. In the 2023 NAR and NALP survey, 98% of REALTORS said curb appeal is important to a potential buyer, with 63% calling it very important.
Which curb appeal projects pay back the most?
NAR asked landscape pros what outdoor jobs cost and asked REALTORS how much of that a seller could get back at sale. We break down the results in do gardens increase property value? Here are the top results, plus front doors from the 2025 report.
| Project | Estimated cost | Estimated value recovered | Cost recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard lawn care (6 seasonal treatments, 5,000 sq ft) | $415 | $900 | 217% |
| Landscape maintenance (mulch, mow, prune, about 60 plants) | $4,800 | $5,000 | 104% |
| Overall landscape upgrade (flagstone walk, planters, shrubs, a tree) | $9,000 | $9,000 | 100% |
| New backyard paver patio (18 × 16 ft) | $10,500 | $10,000 | 95% |
| New steel front door (2025 report) | Not stated | Not stated | 100% |
| New fiberglass front door (2025 report) | Not stated | Not stated | 80% |
These are national estimates, not promises. Your results depend on your market, the house and the quality of the work. Still, the pattern is clear: upkeep beats big projects.
What can you do to boost curb appeal?
Trim the shrubs and care for the lawn
A trimmed yard with no dead leaves is the easiest win. Buyers use the street view to guess how well the whole house was kept. Start by pruning branches that have grown into each other or over windows. Pull weeds from beds and the edges of the walk. Then fertilize and water so the grass is green when photos are taken. For seasonal advice on your garden, SFGate’s home guides are a good reference.
Want less work later? Our ideas for low-maintenance landscaping keep a yard neat with less effort, and our small yard landscaping ideas work when space is tight.
Fix the walkway
Look at your walkway like a guest would. Is it cracked, weedy or slick? Pressure-wash it, fill cracks, add fresh mulch along the edges and plant a few flowers. The flagstone walk in NAR’s “overall landscape upgrade” was part of a project that recovered 100% of its cost.
Paint, starting with the front door
Color is an easy way to change how a house looks. REALTORS put painting the whole home at the top of their pre-listing advice, at 50% in NAR’s 2025 report. If a full repaint isn’t in the budget, start small. Paint the front door, the trim and the shutters. A fresh coat hides small flaws and makes doors look brand new, as Family Handyman’s list of cheap upgrades shows. It can be a weekend DIY job.
Add or repair a fence
A fence frames a yard and adds privacy. If you have one, fix broken boards and loose gates, and clean or stain it. If you’re adding one, match the style, color and height to the house and check local rules and HOA limits first.
Update doors and windows
A new front door is one of the best-recovering projects in NAR’s data. A new garage door can change the whole face of a house too, since it often takes up a big part of the front. In the 2025 Cost vs Value data it recouped 268%, the top return in our look at exterior renovations that add value. Windows matter as well. The licensed installers at Simpson Windows & Doors point out that new windows can make the whole house look updated. If replacing them isn’t in the budget, clean the glass, fix torn screens and repaint the frames. Our tips for cleaning window panes help.
Clean the roof and gutters
Streaks, moss and sagging gutters stand out from the street. Clean them before winter so snow doesn’t delay the work. While you’re up there, look for missing or curling shingles. A roof problem is also an inspection problem, so read our guide on the importance of roof inspections. REALTORS recommend new roofing before listing 37% of the time, per NAR’s 2025 report.
Light it and number it
Clean or replace porch lights, and make sure house numbers are easy to read. Buyers often drive by at night. A lit path and a clear address make the house easy to find and feel safe.
What are the best curb appeal tips for North Carolina?
In North Carolina, the lawn decides most of it, and the right move depends on your grass. NC State Extension’s Carolina Lawns guide splits the state in two. Cool-season grasses like tall fescue suit the mountains and much of the piedmont. Warm-season grasses like bermuda, zoysia, centipede and St. Augustine suit the warmer areas, and they go dormant and brown after the first heavy frost.
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Buy a home →| Your lawn | When it looks best | What to do before listing photos |
|---|---|---|
| Tall fescue (mountains, piedmont) | Spring and fall | Seed bare spots in early fall; mid-February to early March is the piedmont backup window |
| Bermuda, zoysia, centipede (warmer areas) | Summer | Expect brown turf in winter; edge it cleanly and let beds, mulch and paint carry the photo |
| Any lawn | Year-round | Get a soil test before you lime or fertilize; centipede is especially picky |
A few more North Carolina habits help:
- Mow tall fescue high, about 3 to 3.5 inches, so it holds up in the summer heat, as the NC State guide advises.
- Keep shrubs and mulch a few inches off the siding. Humid summers bring mildew and pests to anything touching the house.
- Clean gutters after the fall leaf drop and again in spring pollen season, when yellow film coats porches and cars.
- Pressure-wash the walk and the north side of the house, where green algae shows first.
Selling in North Carolina? Our Raleigh FSBO websites guide shows where buyers look, and our North Carolina excise tax guide covers the main closing cost. Beycome lists North Carolina homes on the major home search sites and the MLS; plans are on the North Carolina flat fee MLS page.
How does curb appeal change by climate?
The basics stay the same, but the plants and problems change.
- Desert areas, like Chandler or Phoenix, Arizona: gravel beds, native plants and drip watering look tidy and use less water than a big lawn.
- The humid Southeast, like Georgia and the Carolinas: keep shrubs off the siding, clean mildew from siding and walks, and clear gutters often.
- Cold northern states: plan exterior paint and repairs for warm months, and keep walks shoveled for winter showings.
Summer brings its own list. Our guide to preparing your property for summer covers heat, pests and yard care.
What should you do first if you’re selling soon?
With a few weeks to go, put your money where buyers look first:
- Mow, edge, weed and mulch.
- Paint or replace the front door and clean the hardware.
- Pressure-wash the walk, driveway and siding.
- Clean windows, gutters and light fixtures.
- Take the listing photos on a bright day, after all of the above.
Then get the home in front of buyers. A flat fee MLS listing puts your home on the major home search sites and the MLS from $99, with $0 due to Beycome at closing. Every package uses the maximum photos your MLS allows, and the Enhanced plan ($399) adds a pro photo session with 25 HD photos. You can also list your home for sale by owner and handle buyers yourself. A good yard sign helps the drive-by crowd; see our guide to FSBO signs. Planning a showing day? Read our tips for hosting an open house.
Buying instead? Curb appeal can hide problems as easily as it shows care. Look past fresh mulch to the roof, the foundation and the drainage, and get an inspection. The Beycome buyer program has no upfront fee and is open to every buyer on homes listed by other agents. Beycome keeps 1% of the price, with a $1,499 minimum, and credits the rest of the buyer-agent commission at closing, with lender approval. The credit can’t apply where no buyer-agent commission is offered, like most homes sold by owner, or on homes listed by Beycome sellers. It isn’t offered in Alabama or Tennessee, where state law doesn’t allow it. For more outdoor ideas, see outdoor improvements that help homes sell.
Frequently asked questions
What is curb appeal in real estate?
It’s how attractive a home looks from the street: yard, walkway, paint, roof, windows and front door. It shapes a buyer’s first impression in the listing photo and at the showing.
Does curb appeal really matter to buyers?
Yes. In a 2023 NAR survey, 98% of REALTORS said curb appeal is important to buyers, and 92% suggest sellers improve it before listing.
What is the least expensive way to improve curb appeal?
Lawn care, weeding, mulch, a painted front door and clean windows. NAR estimated a $415 lawn care program recovers about $900 at sale.
Which exterior project has the best return?
In NAR’s reports, standard lawn care led outdoor projects at 217% estimated cost recovery, and a new steel front door led its 2025 list at 100%.
How do I enhance curb appeal in a desert climate like Chandler, Arizona?
Use clean gravel beds, native and drought-tolerant plants, drip watering and shade near the entry; clump grasses fit well, and our tall grass maintenance guide covers the yearly cut. Keep stucco and trim freshly painted, since sun fades them fast.
Should I paint my house before selling?
Often, yes. Painting the whole home was REALTORS’ top pre-listing recommendation in NAR’s 2025 report, at 50%. If budget is tight, paint the front door and trim.
What are good curb appeal tips for North Carolina homes?
Match the lawn work to your grass: seed tall fescue in early fall, and plan around brown warm-season turf in winter. Keep mulch off the siding, wash off mildew and pollen, and clean gutters after leaf drop.
How do I enhance curb appeal on a small budget?
Mow, edge, weed and mulch, then paint the front door and clean the windows and lights. NAR estimated a $415 lawn care program recovers about $900 at sale.
Reviewed by Beycome Brokerage Realty LLC, a licensed real estate brokerage. Licenses are listed at beycome.com/faq/how-to/are-you-a-licensed-broker/.
Outdoor project costs and cost recovery are national estimates from NAR’s 2023 Remodeling Impact Report: Outdoor Features (costs from NALP members, recovery from REALTORS). Front door and painting figures are from NAR and NARI’s 2025 Remodeling Impact Report. Actual results vary by market, home and work quality.
Beycome prices are as of November 2026. “$0 at closing” means no Beycome fee at closing; other closing costs still apply. Buyer program: no upfront fee; Beycome keeps 1% of the price with a $1,499 minimum and credits the rest, subject to lender approval and state rules; not on homes listed by Beycome sellers or where no buyer-agent commission is offered; not offered in Alabama or Tennessee. North Carolina lawn advice from NC State Extension, Carolina Lawns, read November 4, 2026. Beycome lists in 17 states and DC.
Sources
- NAR, Remodeling Impact Report: Outdoor Features.
- NAR, 5 Outdoor Projects That Pay Off the Most.
- NAR, 2025 Remodeling Impact Report news release.
- NAR, 2025 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends.
- NC State Extension, Carolina Lawns: A Guide to Maintaining Quality Turf in the Landscape, read November 4, 2026.
- Beycome Knowledge Base, MLS photo rules.
- Beycome, listing package features, October 2026.
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