Transform Your Home By Eliminating These 12 Front Yard Eyesores

First impressions matter a lot, especially when it comes to your house. Unlike the interior of your home, however, which remains private unless you invite someone inside, the exterior of your home is viewed by anyone and everyone who passes by. Delivery drivers, neighbors, and guests who will be coming inside will all first interact with the exterior of your home. If you're hoping to put your home's best figurative foot forward, you'll want to avoid some common pitfalls that houses can suffer from: front yard eyesores. 

These unfortunate visual triggers can come in a variety of forms, but they all signal the same thing to visitors: Your home needs more care and attention. Fortunately, if you know where to look, you can be well on your way to transforming your home's exterior by eliminating said eyesores. Front yard blights can include things found on your lawn, such as pet waste and unhealthy shrubs, as well as property features, such as fences in disrepair or cracked walkway slabs. As guests get closer to the front door, they may see lighting fixtures that are dusty or burned out, chipped paint on your front door, or a doorbell that is looking rather grungy. Improving these elements that are visible from your front yard can have a significant positive impact, boosting your home's curb appeal and your confidence as a property owner.

Your front door is the formal point of entry to your home, so ensuring that it reflects your personal style and standards is important. If your front door is looking a little worse for wear or has begun to suffer from chipped paint, it's time to employ some simple tips to fix that peeling paint. Now is also an ideal moment to consider if you want to change the color of the door entirely. If you're going for a timeless option, three door colors you should consider are black, brown, and gray.

A poorly edged walkway could be an aspect of your home's approach that is detracting from its overall appearance. In addition to giving off an unkempt appearance, it can also create a safety hazard if the growth gets too out of control — guests might trip over stubborn grass that lines the walkway or critters may be able to effectively hide in the overgrowth. Instead, remember to edge your walkway on a regular basis, such as every time you mow your lawn, to keep things safe and visually appealing.

While a doorbell's primary job is to alert you to people arriving to your home, it also serves a subconscious purpose of introducing your home to the outside world. If your doorbell is malfunctioning, chipped, scratched, or otherwise broken, this seemingly small detail can give your home a careless vibe. You can go the old-school route of installing a door knocker or opt for a newer, high-tech doorbell. Not sure what kind of doorbell is best for you? Here's a rundown on wireless versus wired doorbells and which is right for your home.

Much like the aforementioned overgrown walkways, weeds between pavers can really take away from the visual appeal of your home's entrance. If you want to get a handle on this common eyesore, you'll need an action plan. Although weeds growing in between pavers can be quite stubborn, you can adopt a simple cleaning habit of sweeping your pavers a few times every week — this will help to stop weed seeds from taking root in the first place. Additionally, you should focus on pulling newly sprouted weeds — staying ahead of the new seeding cycle.

Few things can detract from the appearance of your entryway more than a dying bush or shrub. If you see that your bushes are unhealthy or poorly cared for, there could be critical gardening maintenance that you are neglecting. The best thing you can do is get back to basics: Remember to be deliberate with pruning, watering and fertilizing. If said plant is too far gone, however, it might be time to consider whether you should remove it entirely. 

Cracked pavers or damaged concrete slabs are eyesores that can harm your home's appearance. While individual damaged pavers are fairly easy to replace, a cracked concrete slab can be expensive to remedy. To that end, it's in your best interest to care properly for your sidewalk or walkways. Appropriate concrete walkway maintenance includes avoiding chemicals that can harm the health of the concrete as well as filling in small cracks when you notice them and guaranteeing that the concrete is sealed.

This common eyesore is easy to fix but might keep falling to the bottom of your to-do list. A burned out or dirty lighting fixture on your front porch may not seem like a pressing matter, but the reality is that simple maintenance of such features can be the difference between a welcoming and well-cared-for home and one that looks thoughtless. Brush the bulb to remove dust, cobwebs, and other debris as well as the lighting fixture itself routinely to keep it bright and crisp looking.

This eyesore is so common that many homeowners associations have regulations prohibiting it. Storing your trash cans at the front of the house (or having them visible from the road) is often a no-no. Trash cans and recycling bins aren't pleasant to look at, and unless it's pickup day, you ought to be keeping them stowed safely and concealed from view. Multiple options exist for bin storage, including clearing a space in the garage or installing a privacy screen that is specially designed for trash cans. If selecting the latter, opt for one that blends with other exterior design elements of your home.

While your dog might be fluffy and adorable, the waste that it leaves behind can result in your front yard looking (and smelling) like a dog park. In addition to being terrible to look at, pet waste that pocks the lush lawn approaching your home poses a risk to guests who might step in it and children who are playing in the yard. It is also well documented that dog poop can be a significant health concern. Getting in the habit of regularly picking up dog poop will ensure that this unpleasant chore doesn't overwhelm you.

If your backyard fence is visible from the front or if your front has fencing that is damaged in any way, it's high time to give it some attention. Painting chipped boards or adding a coat of stain can address issues with appearance, while fences that are missing slats or are in disrepair should be fixed properly for the sake of safety and appearance. Vines or other plants that are growing over your fence can be easily removed, too, making a big difference.

Much like a worn down fence, porch furniture that features chipped paint or old upholstery or cushions will result in the exterior of your home looking uncared for. Take some time to maintain or repair whatever visual flaws your porch furniture has and replace cushions that have been bleached by the sun with newer ones. If the chairs or cafe table on your porch are structurally unsound, be sure to get rid of them entirely to prevent someone getting hurt while using them.

Looking for a big-ticket eyesore to eliminate from your front yard? There's no better place to look than the siding of your home. Properties of all types suffer from algae and grime that will take over siding over the years. Dirty siding has a distinctly unkempt appearance and can cause larger issues with your home's durability over time. If you keep up with it yourself, washing off the siding with a hose and sprayer can be part of regular house maintenance. Be sure to equip yourself with a suitable cleaning solution to remove buildup from your siding.