A house should have curb appeal, but what exactly does that mean? It means, if a buyer drives past a house at 10 mph, the front should be alluring enough for that buyer to stop the car. If the seller has done a good job, the buyer might then write down the real estate agent’s name and number.

You can achieve curb appeal, which the National Association of Realtors says sells 49% of all houses, whether you have a city townhouse with no front yard or a suburban house with trees and a lawn.

One facet of curb appeal you may not be able to control is the condition of your neighbors’ houses and yards. If they all look nice, then the buyer will become as intrigued with the neighborhood as with your house. If the other yards are filled with kids’ toys, and the buyer has children, that means potential playmates. If the other yards are filled with rubbish and junk cars… well good luck.