An attractive yard is the first step

Curb appeal is all-important if you hope on catching the eye of someone browsing through the neighborhoods. Key, and very basic, maintenance ideas include reseeding patches of dead grass, raking last year's remaining leaves, and keeping the grass cut, according to Selby.

Bushes can be problematic if they crowd against the house, and should be trimmed back. "If you have columns in your porch, you want people to be able to see these wonderful architectural elements," Selby advises.