Curb Appeal.

Curb appeal is a word used frequently by us people in the real estate profession but not everyone knows exactly what it means. Curb appeal is what the house looks like from the street, or the first impression buyers will have when they look at your house from the outside for the first time. In today's market you need to have really good curb appeal to attract buyers and get showings to bring in an offer. Here are the most common and easiest things you can do to make your house stand out.

1. Get a new door.
The front door is the most telling detail of your house. You can give your home's entryway an instant lift by choosing custom colors, handsome woods such as mahogany or cherry, or cut-glass storm doors. The door is the first impression people will have of your house. That probably means that I should buy a new door. Mine is super old and is even having some of the material fall off! Maybe I can put that on my Christmas list for my husband.

2. Think shutters.
If you have an older house, this is one way to add character without spending a lot. You can hunt for them in antiques shops or order them from a home store. Shutters are also a good place to add vibrant accent colors like blue, red, yellow, or green.

3. Accessorize.
Brass knockers, mailboxes, and lanterns are small investments that make your house look great. Since these accents can lose their shine, choose tarnish-free pieces. House numbers, kickplates, and doorbell buttons are also available.

4. Spruce up the grounds.
Trim shrubs so that doors and windows aren't hidden. Fill window boxes with vines, geraniums, and ornamental grasses, or plant tried-and-true perennials like climbing hydrangea. The garden should complement the style of the house.

5. Paint it right.
Traditional colors are big right now. Since the average cost to paint a two-story home is more than $8,000, don't rush your decision. Check out homes you like in your area and ask the owners for the names of the paint colors they used.

There are many other things that you can do as well but these are easy starting points and will make your house stand out against the neighbors.