3 Ways To Ramp Up Your Home's Curb Appeal

Doesn't matter whether you're looking to sell -- the National Association of Realtors says 49 percent of all houses are bought based on that one factor - "that quality that makes you say 'wow' when you first see it."

   So, how to achieve it? Read on for some of the best ideas from the pros.

   1. Addresses aren't just for mailboxes. You'll score points for originality by painting each numeral -; in big, bold strokes -; on separate flower-filled planters placed near the front entrance. "You spruce up your landscape with plants, so why not liven your home address the same way?" suggests Angie's List.

   2. Glam the front door. Painting it lipstick-red is in, for those who dare. For those who don't, or whose houses aren't a neutral color, Forbes advises to "try a more muted shade like sea-blue, sage-green, or even black."

   3. Pressure time. If you think of it as water pistols for adults, using a garden hose (set to max) to blast away dirt and debris from your property can actually be fun. But as HGTV cautions: "Be careful not to dislodge, or get any water underneath, your home's siding."