Curb appeal is a real estate term used to describe a home's exterior attractiveness. A well-cared-for roof, a neat paint job, handsome windows, decorative shutters and a manicured garden add to a home's appearance and, hence, its curb appeal.

Aside from personal satisfaction from living in a home that has curb appeal, your bank account will prosper too. Curb appeal has a direct effect on the value of a home. A poorly maintained home is less appealing and, thus, generally is less valuable than a comparable home in a comparable neighborhood that is well cared for.

There are various factors that affect the curb appeal of a home. A garage door in some homes can account for as much as 40 percent of the exterior appearance of a home as seen from the street. Thus, the type and style of the door can make or break the home's appearance. Although all architectural elements don't carry the same weight as a garage door, even seemingly insignificant details such as a rain gutter or window and door trim can have a profound impact on the appearance and value of a home.

Among the most popular projects to enhance a home's curb appeal is to install a new entry door and lockset. Often, a new door can be installed in the existing opening (a match-up door), thus eliminating the need to remove the interior and exterior trim and jamb and threshold. The latter can increase the cost of the project twofold depending upon the type of exterior siding and trim.

A popular entry door replacement project involves removing an existing double-door entry and replacing it with a new single door flanked on one or both sides with decorative glass. This, along with a shiny new lockset, can have dramatic impact on a home's appearance. Not everyone, however, has the budget to replace a front door, even if it is a simple match-up. There are less costly means of dressing up your home's entry without replacing the door.

First, a fresh coat of paint or stain can breathe new life into an otherwise tired door. Check with a decorator, color consultant or paint dealer for a "punch" color that will give your home pizzazz. The entry door is to your home what a necktie is to a business suit. With a freshly finished door, the last thing you'll want to do is reinstall that tired old lockset. A new entry lockset can make a real difference when it comes to the overall appearance of an entry-door system. The scale, size, shape and finish are elements that have a profound impact on the finished product. The lockset is the jewel in the crown.

If you've refinished the existing door or installed a new one and replaced the lockset with something more spectacular and there is still something missing, consider dressing up the door with new exterior trim.

If classic moldings are appropriate for the style of your home, use them to add distinction to your entry door. Moldings made of wood, composites or high-density urethane are available for purchase. They come pre-formed in wide, stately configurations. The benefit of the urethane moldings is that they will not warp, decay, splinter, mildew or attract insects. They also take paint beautifully.

A molding "entrance system" consisting of a decorative top piece (lintel), and two vertical side pieces (pilasters) can be purchased as a unit. However, the upper and/or lower blocks for the pilasters might need to be purchased separately.

Most home centers, lumberyards or trim-specialty stores can order the material custom-fabricated to meet your specifications. They will take into consideration the size of the door opening, the existing siding and how the existing trim attaches to the door jamb.

The decorative lintel should overhang the outside edge of each pilaster by about one inch. In addition, the lintel should fit plumb against the siding and top of the door jamb. An out-of-plumb lintel is easily detected.

The decorative pilasters should be measured and specially cut to fit snuggly below the lintel. The base blocks should be made of urethane, redwood or cedar to offer maximum protection from rot and pests. The base blocks also should be scribed to match the shape or slope of the ground for a neat fit. A fine bead of caulk can be installed to conceal the joint where the base blocks meet the ground. The caulk will also allow for minor expansion and contraction through the seasons.

The lentil and pilasters should be attached using galvanized finish nails or ceramic coated construction screws with a finish head. It is also a good idea to use a high-quality construction adhesive between the back of the trim and the siding.

Complete the project by puttying nail heads, priming and painting with a high-quality oil-base primer and finish coat. Curb appeal is guaranteed.