When looking to use your house as a rental property, it's not an easy job — you might feel like you're swimming in upkeep and your to-do list is a million miles long. You want your place to look appealing to renters so they can picture themselves feeling at home, and it's tricky to figure out what should take priority. While you're not actually trying to sell your home in terms of putting it on the market for potential buyers, you are trying to "sell" it to potential renters who may want to live there.

The interior is likely the most important to renters, but the home's exterior can play a big role. If you can improve curb appeal, your property will catch the eye of prospective renters. Even a little bit of effort can make a big difference for your home's curb appeal. Here's a handy guide with a few home improvement ideas you can implement to boost curb appeal and let potential tenants know your rental is a place they can call home.

1. Add a pop of color

Nothing says quirky quite like some bold color. You can include a splash of a contrasting color or something bright to bring in a bit of character to even the most standard house. Try a bright mailbox, pastel shutters or a funky color on your front door to draw the eye. You can even get some cool door hardware that's a bright color or replace the old house numbers with a new, more fun house number plate.

You can also go for a few window boxes and plant flowers and greenery for a more natural way of adding color. Part of curb appeal is grabbing people's attention and adding color is a sure way to do that.

2. Go with the flow

It might seem a bit cliché, but a water feature always adds extra appeal to any outdoor space, especially if your yard gets lots of sun and the light can reflect on the water. You don't have to dig out a spot to install a giant fountain or cascading waterfall — simply include any kind of water feature that would best fit your rental.

You can choose a birdbath or a small fountain if either strikes your fancy. Including water in your outdoor house design increases your space's natural qualities and curb appeal while also making it feel curated and stylish.

3. Go green

When considering curb appeal ideas, bring plants into the conversation. Planting bushes, flowers and trees around the house can help to create a lush, green and inviting space for a classic look. Some plants are more common for front yards and are easy to care for, but there are also plenty of easy flowers to grow that are low-maintenance if you're looking for a bit more color and a fresh look. Just make sure each plant gets the proper light so it can thrive.

4. Illuminate your space

While it's easy to think of curb appeal only pertaining to daytime, it's also crucial to consider lighting solutions for the evening. Clearing and lighting your pathways can make a huge difference, and depending on your style, that could be all you need. A good porch light can easily do the trick. However, if you're looking to add extra flair, you can always include decorative light pieces.

String and fairy lights can create a cool garden atmosphere around your rental house as long as you avoid any that look too much like Christmas lights. You can also coordinate your lighting solutions with each season with a colored porch light or string of lights for a more festive curb appeal.

5. Give it a good trim

One of the biggest secrets to great curb appeal is hardly a secret at all. Simply put, having a well-groomed and tidy yard can improve any home's appearance. Trimming the hedges, mowing the lawn regularly, pulling weeds from the garden beds, adding new plants and fresh mulch and keeping all the features well-cared-for can go a long way. Putting in this effort gives a clean appearance that's homey and inviting to potential renters. If you really want to go the extra mile, you can add a container garden or some outdoor art to really breathe life into the yard.

If your rental has a driveway, make sure it's in good shape and doesn't have weeds growing between the concrete. A driveway is a huge selling point, so you want it to look good — not to mention that a good driveway gives people a clear path to the home from the street and can draw the eyes in.

6. Paint the home's exterior

No matter what the material of the house exterior is, it can start to look a little worn over time and might need a little bit of help. In many cases, the most cost-effective way to fix up the exterior walls is with fresh paint. You'll have to make sure it's clean, then get special exterior paint that can withstand the weather conditions. Such paint will work on most materials, including siding.

Plus, adding paint in some cases totally changes the look of a home in a good way and really showcases your home's style — painted brick is currently trending and gives the home a new texture along with the color. Before you paint, give it a good clean with a power washer to remove any dirt and grime so your paint will stick for a long time.

7. Update the front door

If you have an old front door that looks like it belongs on a haunted house, you can bet your money that the front entryway is scaring off renters. Maybe you just need to add a new coat of paint and some door hardware and maybe you need a new door altogether.

In any case, make sure your front door looks like it's in good shape and safe so people will know it can keep out unwelcome drafts (and guests and critters!). In many cases, just changing up the front door will boost curb appeal immensely.

8. Clean up your home's curb appeal

Making sure your home's exterior and yard is nice and clean makes a bigger difference than we may initially realize when it comes to curb appeal. Keep the front porch tidy, power wash the garage doors, dust off the cobwebs from light fixtures and fix up any outdoor furniture. A thorough cleaning will give the rental property a fresh look and really add curb appeal and show that it's a welcoming environment for renters.

Improve curb appeal to attract renters

As a prospective landlord, you call the shots concerning your property, which comes with the responsibility of caring for it. Maintaining a rental house is time-consuming, but the maintenance will have a huge impact on your chances of finding good renters.

No matter what design features you go with, updating a few things and putting some extra elbow grease into your home's exterior will improve curb appeal to attract future tenants and have them feeling happy and at home at the same time.