When it comes to prepping a house for the market, a lot of attention is paid to the interior. But arranging the inside is useless if buyers are turned off by the outside.

It all starts with the exterior and the ever-critical curb appeal. If a buyer is unimpressed by a property the moment they pull up, selling that property to them is going to be an uphill battle.

The first glimpse should be captivating. It will set the tone for the entire showing. If they like what they see in that first moment, they’ll be receptive from the gate. If they don’t, they’ll be reluctant to even go inside. Here are four elements of a house’s outside appearance that can be quickly improved.

• Plants – Some fresh flowers can make all the difference when it comes to brightening up a home.
• Paint Accents – Repainting a house’s entire exterior can be expensive and time consuming. Instead focus on improving an accent, like shudders or railings.
• Mulch – New mulch makes all the difference in the world, especially if it covers up flower beds that were just dirt.
• Lawn – Make sure the lawn is always golf-course quality.

Stress the importance of these projects to owners. If the only thing preventing them from making the changes is cost, offer to split the difference. None of these ideas are expensive, and the return will be well worth the investment.