English

Alternative forms

• curb-appeal

Noun

curb appeal ‎(uncountable)

1. (idiomatic) The visual attractiveness which a house, commercial establishment, or other real estate property has when initially seen by a prospective buyer or other person standing in front of the property "at the curb".
   • 2009 Oct. 21, Francesca Levy, "Home Of The Week," Forbes (retrieved 31 July 2011):

     [A] brand-new landscaped lawn complete with picket fence boosts the classic home's curb appeal.

   • 2011 July 26, Julie Satow, "Class-Consciousness in the Office Building Market," New York Times (retrieved 31 July 2011):

     Among the criteria brokers use to classify office buildings are age, location, curb appeal, tenancy, building infrastructure and ownership.

2. (idiomatic) The visual attractiveness of an automobile, as seen from street level.
   • 2008 Jan. 7, Chris Woodyard, "Hyundai offers up luxury car," USA Today (retrieved 31 July 2011):

     Hyundai hopes Genesis will lure the well-heeled with curb appeal even if it lacks snob appeal.

   • 2009 Oct. 1, Douglas Kott, "2008 Cadillac CTS vs. 2007 Infiniti G35 Sport," Road and Track (retrieved 31 July 2011):

     The G35's exterior styling . . . looks suitably sporty but lacks the Caddy's curb appeal.

Synonyms

• (attractiveness of real estate): street appeal

References

• curb appeal at OneLook Dictionary Search