There are going to be necessary touchups, fixes, and upgrades anytime you sell a house. If you’re lucky, they’ll mostly be cosmetic, easily resolved, and affordable. After all, it’s never fun putting money into a house you’re about to leave. That’s why it should come as a relief to potential sellers that there’s one job anyone can do to improve their home’s curb appeal – and it costs nothing. So what it is it? Well, six in 10 recently surveyed real estate agents said a messy yard decreases a property’s value – and not by a little. In fact, those agents said it could drop a property’s value by 20 percent or more. That means the easiest and cheapest way to get your home ready to sell is to clear the yard of trash, discarded building materials, extra cars, and overgrown landscaping. Regardless of the market you’re in, keeping your home’s exterior neat and clean is the easiest and cheapest way to make a good first impression on buyers. (source)