Curb appeal is an important and vital element in selling your home.

What is curb appeal?  Curb appeal is that distinct quality or feature that a home offers that makes you say "wow" when you first see it. A home that has curb appeal makes you feel good when you pull into the driveway and makes you want to walk in the front door.

Whether the home is yours that you are putting on the market or one you're considering for purchase, curb appeal can make a big difference in how you feel about the property.  If your home has that distinct quality, you won't have any trouble getting more for it than similar homes in the neighborhood.

Curb appeal also means you won't have any trouble getting potential buyers into the home.  It works the other way, too. A lot of people won't go into a house to look around if it looks bad from the outside. "Curb appeal" is the first step in getting people to look at the inside of your home.  If your home doesn't shine with appeal from the curb, there are plenty of things you can do to unleash its charm.

First and foremost, make sure the yard is pristine. Start by giving the yard a "manicure" so to speak.  Nurture and mow the lawn so it's trimmed, healthy and free of weeds. Make sure plant and flower beds are edged with nice, crisp edges, and mulched. A nicely pruned lawn makes everything stand out and gives the feeling that if the outside is being taken care of; perhaps the inside is, too. Don't skimp on flowers. It's always nice to have flowers in front of the house, whether it's hanging baskets, beds of annuals or both.  

Make sure the windows, doors and entryway is clean. Wash light fixtures and make sure all lights are functioning properly.  Make sure light fixtures and door hardware and door knobs shine.  Your visitors will notice whether the front of the home looks clean, even if it is on an unconscious level. If everything is shined and bright, it's not only inviting but it signals that the rest of the home is well maintained.

Assess the look of the front door. It's one of the first things people notice in a home, so make it count. You don't have to break the bank. There are options at every price level. You can paint the front door for the cost of your time and a little paint or have it professionally painted or replaced.

Pressure washing can give a new appearance to walkways, driveways depending on the construction of your home. Sometimes the house itself should be power washed. You can rent the machinery and do it yourself.  If powerwashing the driveway doesn't bring it back to life consider resealing it. Resealing the driveway can be done yourself in a weekend, or hire a professional. For a professional, get a recommendation from someone who has had the work done fairly recently. If you choose to do it yourself, power wash the driveway one day and let it dry. Then seal it the next day. If it has cracks that you need to seal, allow an extra day for the job.

Talk to your friends and neighbors to get a second opinion. You may not see something as looking run-down because you've seen it age gradually over time. Bring in a couple of people you trust and ask their opinions.

Trees that are planted in the proper places can enhance the appeal and value of a home. Consult a professional to help you select the variety, size and location. And if you want to plant larger trees, have the trees professionally installed. Call in an arborist to get the low-hanging branches removed, especially those hanging over the house. If you're hiring anyone to work on your home, call around and get several free estimates. Don't automatically choose the cheapest quote. Instead, select the one in whom you have the most confidence and verify that your choice has liability and workers compensation insurance. If an accident happens at your home, you could be held liable if the contractor has inadequate insurance coverage.

Paint your house. If you want to really amp up that curb appeal, painting your house makes a difference, use colors that are appropriate for the style of your house. For instance, in historical buildings, that often means soft colors and warm colors, he says. You want to have a color of paint that is warm and inviting. It's one of the easiest ways to obtain curb appeal.

Examine the shutters, many times they are the wrong size and most people hang them upside down or put them too far away from the windows. In appropriate installation of shutters can throw off the proportion of the house.

Look for elements that draw too much attention from the rest of the house. For example, your garage door should blend in. The garage door shouldn't stand out and be the whole focus of the garage.

If you're unsure about how to lay out changes, hire a professional designer. If the front of your home needs a little cosmetic work, this is a good time to call in a designer. A designer is also a good option if you sense there's something out of whack with the way the front of the home looks, but you can't quite put your finger on it. Prices do vary, so shop around. A designer can also give you some options to plan and a budget for.  Make a plan. If the landscaping lacks luster, sometimes it's a matter of changing or moving things around a bit. One good move: If you're going to stay in the house is to consult a professional to give you a long-range landscaping master plan.

A little curb appeal can drastically change how your home is viewed by prospective home buyers.