Quick fixes to 'up a property's game' / increase curb appeal (developer secrets?)

[AuntOlive]

How do these developer type people do it?

They start with a scruffy unattractive house and weeks later it's magically like something out of country life.

I know that is probably the answer, but is there some secret manual on things which are guaranteed to make a house look more appealing?

I've been trying to analyse what they do and so far have gleaned:

new windows - imagine would be v expensive?
lots of sand coloured gravel on paths etc
little round trees (box etc) in pots on the front door step
they also do something to the bricks somehow... not sure what.

Would love to copy some of these ideas to smarten my home's exterior. Anyone else able to share any wisdom here?

We did this:

• Painted our dark wood front door white and put new chrome fittings on
• Replaced a quarry tiled step in front of the door with a slate step
• Put up a new slate house sign
• Gave the old windows a really good clean (scrub) and put up blinds inside
• Pressure washed the driveway and path
• Neatly trimmed all trees and bushes

Also the requisite box bushes in pots! Looks great

Repoint for bricks, stylish window treatments like shutters, repaint door and windows (love the look of nicely painted wood/sash windows) beats uvpc all day long, pressure wash drive

Well the cheapest options are for a house to be as clean and tidy as possible, so in terms of the exterior of a house things like weeding, scrubbing steps, fixing things like fences, fresh coats of paint.