Distinctive curb appeal sets a home apart from the competition

First impressions are everything, and the exterior of a home plays a huge role in the home-buying process.

Amid the floor plans, flooring choices, amenities, appliances and storage options, the curb appeal of a new home is often shoved into the back of that proverbial extra storage closet.

Creating distinctive curb appeal allows homebuilders "to stand apart from the competition and create emotion. This allows prospects to envision themselves living in and enjoying the home," said Jennifer Jayne Bell with the Warmington Group, developer of Westbury, a new-home development in southwest Las Vegas.

Like most things in Las Vegas, the curb appeal design rules are different than for the rest of the country. Desert landscaping requiring little to no water is key. And grass? Forget it.

Clark County, the cities of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson and Boulder City have banned the installation of new turf in front yards. In addition, "new turf installed in side and rear yards may not exceed 50 percent, or 100 square feet, whichever is greater. Turf area dimension may not be more than 5,000 square feet," according to the Southern Nevada Water Authority.

Color

What's hot in the desert — besides the baking sun — is different simply because the style of homes is so unique. Stucco exteriors tend to fall into the earthy palette of browns, greens and taupe colors. The trend toward desert green on the outside of homes brings a bit of muted color to add some pop to a home without being too flamboyant or unappealing to homeowners associations that regulate the shared and visible areas of the neighborhoods.

"We just painted the Plan 3 model home at Westbury using this hot color," Bell said. "We think it is current and fashionable and we think it will be well received by our prospective buyers.

Elevation

Well-planned street scenes and regionally appropriate front elevations with interesting architectural themes are key to an attractive first impression in a neighborhood, Bell said.

Westbury relies on a colorist to select and plot the street scenes to ensure that each is unique and alluring.

Different elevations throughout the front yard offer various focal points and, when properly done, can carry the eye through the entire yard and offer a path to the house.

Paths

Speaking of paths, be sure to include a clearly marked path to the front door.

Avoid the typical pitfall of featuring the Las Vegas garage front-and-center. Yes, we're all thankful for the shade and the extra storage, but a clearly marked path to the front door is more inviting to guests.

And if feng shui is your bag, be sure that path to the front door is meandering and clutter-free.

Landscaping

The keys to good landscaping in the Las Vegas area are low water usage, low maintenance and striking appeal.

Take advantage of plants that offer a vibrant palette year-round.

Better Homes and Gardens suggests a prickly pear cactus that flowers yellow, turns red and in the winter is purple. This one plant offers a variety of scenery and very little work.

Mix colorful desert plants with shrubs and good, quality rock to keep the landscaping clean and simple but attractive.

"We understand that this is a very important component so we take it very seriously and work with a team of landscape architects who create beautiful outdoor spaces for the homesites and common areas that work well within the desert climate," Bell said. "This is an aesthetic consideration as well as a lifestyle and environmental concern, and all of these are taken into consideration and the result offers a design that reflects these priorities."

The goal of good curb appeal is to "stand apart from the competition and create emotion," Bell said. "This allows prospects to envision themselves living in and enjoying the home."