How can you improve curb appeal? Here are 5 great options for any budget.

If you don't have a big budget, try to focus your money where it will do the most good. The front entrance is a good option. Freshen up the porch and front door with some new paint and a change of hardware. Add colorful plant containers around the space to give it a vibrant feeling. If the exterior door is dated, consider adding a new one.

If you have a somewhat neutral color scheme on the house, the front door is a good place to add a pop of bold color that will catch the eye of a buyer. And if there's a prominent garage, try to add a color palette and hardware that will match or complement the front door.

Lushness looks great, so do what you can to make the yard appear green and thriving. This could be as simple as watering more often and ensuring complete coverage. Lay out drip irrigation hoses to water trees and bushes in planters. And consider adding a fast-working fertilizer to the lawn to help things along. A layer of fresh mulch--with its deep, rich brown colors--can also cover imperfections in planter areas and make them look more alive. 

If the front of the house looks like it hasn't been well maintained, the buyer may assume the rest of the home hasn't cared for either. You can avoid this problem by fixing problems on the exterior walls and roof. Look for damaged or warped shingles on the roof, cracked flashing, or missing and aging caulking. These are easy fixes. Similarly, replacing siding that's been discolored or warped is an easy way to make the whole front yard look better. 

Fresh paint makes just about anything look better and newer. A fresh coat of paint, therefore, can help dress up the exterior of the house, the garage, or the fence with little additional money investment. Switching from dated colors to a new color scheme can also modernize the house and help it attract buyers.

Another way to add easy color is to plant flowers in and around the yard. Many annuals are inexpensive as summer goes on, and they can create an immediate feeling of freshness. Even just placing colorful flowers in pots to hang and place around the porch, walkways, driveway, or front exterior wall can make everything liven up.

One of the easiest and cheapest ways to add curb appeal is simply to clean up the yard and the exterior. This includes cleaning out the gutters until the water from a hose runs clear and unimpeded down the downspouts. Prune trees and bushes and make nice, clean lines in the grass edges. Clear kids' toys and pet debris from the yard, and remove all dead or dying branches and plants from the yard. If there's clutter in the yard--like yard tools, excess lawn art, or in-progress projects--hide it inside an exterior shed, donate it, or throw some of it out.

No matter which of these projects is in your budget and timetable to accomplish before buyers come to look at the house, you'll find instant improvement in the look of your home and the price it can get on the real estate market.