Front yard curb appeal: what people actually notice

Front yards are judged in four seconds from a moving car. These are the things that get noticed, in order.

1. The line of the driveway and walk

Clean edges and a defined route read as maintained before anyone registers a single plant.

2. Bed edges

A crisp, consistent bed line does more than another shrub. It is also the cheapest thing on this list.

3. The entrance

Steps, landing and the approach to the door. Even lighting and equal risers make a modest house look looked after.

4. Mass, not variety

Three plants repeated in groups look deliberate. Fifteen different plants look like a collection.

5. Lighting

Half the year it is dark when people arrive home. A lit walk and a washed wall change the whole property after five o'clock.

Front yard work