15 Curb Appeal Mistakes You Should Fix ASAP

While there's no official criteria for achieving optimal curb appeal, we all know it when we see it. Sure, manicured lawns, freshly trimmed shrubs and picture-perfect porches will elevate your home's appearance, but every home is different and requires a unique approach to achieve its maximum curb appeal potential.

That said, if you're looking for ways to improve your home's outdoor style, our editors are sharing the most common exterior issues to look out for. From repairing your driveway to fixing a leaning mailbox, here are 15 curb appeal mistakes to avoid if you want the most charming house on the block.

When done right, a wood fence can level up your home’s look; however, fences that are rotten, faded, covered in mildew or otherwise in disarray have the opposite effect. Give your fence some much-needed attention, and it will improve the overall look of your property.

No matter how beautiful your home is, one of the first things people notice is a cracked or faded driveway. Plus, if you’re looking to put it on the market, buyers will immediately see this as a liability with a hefty replacement cost.

Storage is hard to come by, but your front porch should never serve as a spare storage room. While you're at it, take time to makeover your front porch and create a beautiful, inviting first impression.

An ivy-covered exterior is what dreams are made of, but there’s a fine line between elegant and invasive vines. Many varieties of climbing vines grow quickly and can damage the facade of your home if not managed properly.

If you don’t want your yard to look like a putting green, that’s totally fine; however, it should be mowed regularly to maintain its health and beauty.

On the opposite end of the curb appeal spectrum, bare spots in the grass can be major eyesores. Even the most beautiful houses on the street require some top dressing and grass seed from time to time.

If your neighbors are wondering if you’re running a 24/7 yard sale operation, then there’s a good chance you have a cluttered yard in need of a thorough cleaning. Clear out the clutter and replace it with stunning landscaping.

While you may have grown accustomed to your home’s rough-around-the-edges look, it’s not doing any favors for your curb appeal. Broken pipes, bent railings, falling shutters and more may not be major issues, but they really drag down your home's appearance. Visible garbage bins don't help either.

No matter how much you try to convince your neighbors that you’re ‘rewilding’ your yard, they know overgrown landscaping when they see it. Grab some hedge trimmers and get to work.

Painting a home’s exterior is no easy feat, so we totally understand putting the job off. But, if you’re after can’t-miss curb appeal, peeling and fading paint must be remedied.

We’re not saying you shouldn’t have fun with your home design. Want a colorful exterior packed with personality? You do you! However, if your goal is to maximize curb appeal, attract future buyers or keep neighbors content, a subtler approach may be best.

The easiest way to tell fake shutters from operational shutters is their scale. While most shutters these days are inoperable, properly scaling your shutters and choosing real wood over plastic will do wonders for your curb appeal.

Sure, your less-than-straight mailbox still technically works, but imagine what it’s doing to your home’s curb appeal. Take some time to straighten your leaning mailbox and, while you’re at it, give it a makeover with fresh landscaping.

While artificial grass is a great solution for small yards with pets or low-maintenance backyards, it doesn’t beat the look of the real stuff — especially in the front yard. Don't worry: Planting grass is easier than you think.