Dawn Isenhower

According to the NAR, curb appeal is the feature of your home that will give the biggest return on investment- for the second year in a row. We've all heard for years that kitchens and baths were the areas that give the most bang for your buck, but not anymore. Now there is a focus on the exterior, and decks rule the day.

While kitchens still come in near the top, baths do not seem to be a "dealbreaker" anymore. As a woman who seeks out the tub in the Master Bath of any home that I go into, I find that hard to believe. I must admit though, when it came time to buying a home 3 years ago, even I sacrificed " the tub" for a large kitchen, a huge deck, a screened porch, and a beautiful wooded lot. (My husband has promised me "the tub" someday.)

I attribute this focus on the outdoors to HGTV and other shows and publications that have focused so heavily on the need to make the exterior an extension of the interior-especially when it comes to the deck or patio. My favorite shows on HGTV seem to place a lot of emphasis on the outdoors. (Who hasn't seen "Curb Appeal?")

So, what can you do to improve the look and increase the value of your own home without spending a lot of money? Several years ago, I heard Ty Pennington suggest that fresh mulch can make the biggest overall difference in the curb appeal of a home -without breaking the budget. Something else that doesn't cost much is adding color with flowers. Planting flowers can do wonders when it comes to enhancing curb appeal. Another thing that one can do is to make the lawn neat and tidy by simply edging the grass.

This spring, remember that curb appeal makes a big difference when it comes to your home's value. That does not mean, however, that buyers have changed their focus completely to the outdoors. Updating and maintenance on the interior are still very important in the overall value of your home.