Curb appeal is important in two ways. The first is for yourself and for your neighbors. You don't want to drive home to a house and yard you aren't proud of. After a long day of work the last thing you want to see driving in is pealing paint and garbage in the yard. Some people are good at ignoring their home's curb appeal, but it affects you whether you want it to or not. It also affects your neighbors.

You do not want to be the eye-sore on the block. Give your neighbors a break and dress up your curb appeal so everyone is happy with what they see, or at least don't notice your home apart from the neighborhood.

The second, and probably more important reason you should focus on your curb appeal is if you are in the market to sale your home. Studies have shown that buyers form their opinion of a home from the first moment they see it. Your home has thirty seconds to a minute to make enough of an impression on potential buyers that they want to take a look inside. A curb with excellent curb appeal will sell the fastest and at the highest dollar whereas a home with less curb appeal will stay on the market longer and will be negotiated on. If you want to get the most out of your home when it comes time to sell it, spend a little time on your curb appeal.

Start evaluating your curb appeal by looking at your home through the eyes of a potential buyer or neighbor. Look at it from across the street and really be honest with yourself about what you see. What is your first impression of the home and surrounding landscape? What features of your home and yard stand out to you in a good way? Which stand out in a not so good way or that could be improved upon? Does your home stand out from your neighbors? If your home blends in with its background, you aren't going to spark potential buyers' interest or create a place that you truly love.

As you get closer to your home, notice the small details. Do things look fresh? Is the path to your door tidy and clearly marked? Are their cracks in the paving or yellow patches in your lawn? The small details can turn a potential buyer on or off to a home. Does your yard and home have character? When you are selling your home you want to create enough character in your curb appeal that potential buyers can imagine themselves living there, but not so much that your personality is stamped there for good.

When evaluating your curb appeal, do it several times and at several times of day including dusk and after dark. Many potential buyers will drive by a home at night when they are off work rather than in the middle of the day when you are usually inspecting your curb appeal. Make sure you add nighttime lighting to highlight your walkways and fun features of your yard. And as one last piece of advice, don't forget to look at your home from the backyard too.