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irina88w / Getty Images. Fixing walkway issues improves safety and creates a more welcoming approach to the front door.Maintaining the front door and hardware keeps the home’s exterior looking polished and inviting.A clutter-free entryway with proper storage ensures the space feels organized and ready for guests.

A well-kept front entrance creates a welcoming and tidy first impression. Experts identified the most common eyesores, from the walkway to the foyer, that homeowners should avoid to ensure their home feels inviting and well-maintained for both residents and guests.

James M. Crisp is the principal architect and owner of Crisp Architects. Confusing Front Walkway Credit: KenWiedemann / Getty Images

Obvious front walkway eyesores include cosmetic defects such as cracked pavers and overgrown landscaping, but structural flaws can make your front entrance less user-friendly.

"Not all entry problems can be resolved due to building codes like setbacks, budgets, or the style and configuration of a home," says architect James M. Crisp. "Some of the biggest start with the approach to the front door."

There should always be a clear path to the front door and/or porch when you arrive at the home.

"If that path is uneven or hidden from view, the first part of the approach will be poor," Crisp says.

Uneven Front Steps Credit: Melissa Ross / Getty Images

Some eyesores can hurt more than just your eyes.

"The front steps should be gradual and even since people of all ages may be visiting the home," Crisp says. "Uneven or steep steps can be dangerous."

Poorly Maintained Front Door Credit: mikroman6 / Getty Images

A front door that looks neglected—with faded or peeling paint, warping from water damage, or tarnished hardware—will give your facade or front porch an unkempt appearance.

“The front door should be maintained well since it makes the first impression visitors get of the home,” Crisp says. “It should work properly, so the owner can open the door with grace.”

He argues that all doors should be covered with a portico, a covered porch, or a recessed entry door when possible.

"[It should be] deep enough to protect a person standing at the door if it happens to be raining," Crisp adds.

Mudroom Shoe Clutter Credit: EllenMoran / Getty Images

For a mudroom located near the front entrance of your home, a pile of shoes on the floor will produce unsightly clutter.

Ensure that your home is always ready for company with targeted storage solutions that make it easy to keep things organized and tidy.

“Make an obvious place for removing and storing shoes like a guest bench and basket or rack," says interior designer Denise Taylor.

For items such as car keys or sunglasses, she suggests a decorative box or bowl that is easy to access without adding to the visual clutter of the space.

Furniture Blocking Entry Credit: John Keeble / Getty Images

Every entry should have a console table that functions as a landing spot for personal items or for dinner guests to put down a bottle of wine.

But be careful that it doesn’t encroach on a smaller entryway, foyer, or narrow front hallway space, or block the front door from opening fully.

“One of the biggest entryway eyesores is when the scale of the furniture is incorrect, and guests and homeowners are dancing around each other to get in and out,” Taylor says. “A well-designed entry has a clearly defined path for a guest to enter your home."

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Credit: Deni + Dove Interiors

Maximizing your home's value can take many forms. If you're planning to sell and want to increase the value without major renovations, consider adding smart storage solutions. Built-in shelving units, garage storage systems, and other cohesive features can help keep your home organized while appealing to buyers.

To find out which storage solutions add the most value—and which to avoid—we spoke with moving expert Chris Townsend, as well as real estate experts Jessica Lauren and Debbi Rivero. Ahead, they share which upgrades are worth the investment, how storage factors into a home's appraisal, and which additions won't boost value.

Chris Townsend, home moving expert at Three Movers, a full-service moving and relocation company How Storage Is Factored Into a Home's Value

Homes with large square footage often come at a premium, so making the most of every inch to create a functional, organized space is top of mind for buyers. During home tours, properties that maximize space with thoughtful storage solutions tend to attract stronger interest and, in turn, higher offers.

When evaluating storage as part of a home's overall value, appraisers consider several factors. First, they review the home's property tax records, which list the number of rooms and total square footage, Lauren explains.

"If you want to increase your property value, make sure that any storage additions (such as a pantry or closet) appear as actual square footage (or rooms) on the official government property paperwork — including any floor plans that accompany the county or local tax records," she adds. "Closets and pantries typically appear on country floor plans. These can add value to a home."

Storage Solutions to Boost Your Home's Value

Buyers aren't just looking for more space—they want a home that feels effortlessly organized. Investing in storage upgrades that complement the space and function well is key. Features that look like afterthoughts can work against you, drawing attention to what may be missing.

“The storage upgrades that seriously move the needle on home value are the ones that feel like they were always meant to be there," Townsend says. "A built-in closet that flows with the room, a pantry that feels like part of the kitchen's design, and shelving that looks architectural rather than functional are all memorable details."

Ahead, experts share the storage solutions that can boost your home's value.

california closets martha stewart colletion8BIM

Designing custom closets can significantly boost your home's overall value—not only by improving your day-to-day living experience, but also by increasing its appeal when it's time to sell. “A built-in closet signals that a home has been thought through,” Townsend says. “Buyers aren't just looking at storage space. They're investigating how livable the home feels. A well-designed closet answers that question before they even ask it.”

Custom closets are especially important in the primary bedroom. Features like double-hanging sections, built-in drawers, and integrated lighting can stand out to buyers.

A Walk-In Pantry Walk-in pantry inside kitchen

While not all kitchens have space for a large walk-in pantry, even a modest one with clean shelving, good lighting, and a solid door makes a strong impression on buyers.

Additional kitchen storage with permanent cabinetry that matches the existing cabinets throughout the home looks cohesive and can increase value, Lauren says.

A tidy garage with ample storage is one of the first things buyers notice during a tour. A cluttered garage, on the other hand, can signal extra work, prompting buyers to factor it into their to-do list and potentially affecting what they're willing to offer, Townsend warns.

“When buyers see an organized garage, they see a home that has been properly maintained,” Townsend says. “It removes a question mark. That matters more than people realize when offers are being put together.”

Credit:

Andreas von Einsiedel / Getty Images

Built-in shelving makes a room feel more complete while offering ample, cohesive storage. This type of storage works especially well in living rooms, home offices, and hallways. Fitted shelving reads as an architectural feature rather than a piece of furniture, which carries real weight with buyers, Townsend says. “Freestanding shelves say ‘furniture.’ Built-ins say ‘home,’” he adds. “That distinction matters to buyers, especially in competitive markets.”

Jeff Herr.

Hallways are easy to overlook when it comes to storage, but adding fitted cupboards and concealed cabinetry near the entryway—similar to a mudroom-style setup—solves a practical problem buyers often hope is already addressed, Townsend says. “If buyers walk in and immediately see organized, built-in storage, it creates a positive first impression that carries through the rest of the house," he adds.

Under the Stairs Credit: Kate Mathis

For those with two-story homes, maximizing the space beneath a staircase is one of the most valuable ways to add storage. "Converting it into fitted storage with pull-out drawers, a built-in cabinet, or a concealed shelving unit adds practical space without any structural work," Townsend says.

Storage Additions That Don’t Pay Off at Resale

Maximizing your space with clever storage solutions can boost your home's value, but not every type of storage delivers a return. While sheds and outbuildings may add some appeal, investing in thoughtful, well-designed interior storage in key living areas is where buyers are more likely to see value, Rivero says.

If you're considering adding storage for resale appeal, make sure nothing looks make-shift, Lauren warns. Features that feel temporary or poorly integrated can detract from your home's value rather than enhance it.

Some commonly assumed upgrades—like adding cabinetry above existing kitchen cabinets to fill the space below the ceiling—may not pay off. "While this might be attractive for some homeowners, buyers typically don’t find that storage usable," Lauren says. "Appraisers will consider the general cabinetry available in the kitchen area, and they won’t factor in much, if any, additional value for the upper storage."

Similarly, nonpermanent options such as metal shelving or freestanding wooden shelves in kitchens and laundry rooms do not add value, since they can be easily removed. "All this said, attractive, sturdy, and permanent storage that coordinates with the home's style and overall decor is a selling point for many homebuyers, even if it doesn’t add much to the final appraisal value," Lauren says.

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Single women have long outpaced single men as homebuyers — and they may be pulling ahead financially as well.

Among first-time buyers, single women have a median income of $73,000 compared with $66,400 for single men, according to the National Association of Realtors’ 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, which analyzed transactions made between July 2024 and June 2025. The prior year’s report recorded median income of $73,100 for women and $87,500 for men, which continued a long-term trend of male buyers outearning their female counterparts.

While it’s uncertain whether the flip is the start of a new trend, this is the first time the organization has found that the income disparity favors women, said Jessica Lautz, deputy chief economist and vice president of research for NAR.

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The shift comes as single women account for 25% of first-time homebuyers, compared with 10% for single men. In 1985, those figures were 11% and 9%, respectively, according to the research. Among all homebuyers, 21% are single women and 9% are single men.

“I think [single women] understand how homeownership is a wealth-building tool. They make sacrifices,” Lautz said.

Women still lag behind men when it comes to pay

Nevertheless, men still out-earn women overall, according to the Pew Research Center. In 2024, women earned an average of 85% of what men earned, according to the organization. In 2003, that figure was 81%, and in 1982, it was 65%.

Before that, women generally struggled to get a mortgage. While the 1968 Fair Housing Act addressed housing discrimination, it wasn’t until the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974 that women could reliably qualify for mortgages on their own.

Since then, the share of homeowners they represent has grown. In 2022, single women owned 58% of the nearly 35.2 million homes owned by unmarried Americans, compared with 42% for single men, according to the Pew Research Center.

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Single women who are first-time homebuyers have a median age of 44, while for single men, it’s 39, the NAR research shows. For repeat buyers, the age difference is small: age 63 for women, age 64 for men.

“What I see is women are not waiting to either get married or find a life partner before moving forward and accomplishing their financial goals,” said certified financial planner Nicole Romito, a partner at Private Vista in Chicago who specializes in single women going through life transitions, including divorce or the death of a spouse or partner.

“Homeownership is generally the top goal — or if not, one of the top three goals — that [clients] want to try to work toward or maintain when we look at their overall financial plan,” Romito said.

Saving for a down payment can mean making sacrifices

Owning a home has become a more elusive goal in recent years for many Americans as higher mortgage rates, rising prices and a limited supply of homes for sale have pushed monthly payments out of reach for many buyers.

For single buyers, relying on one income to qualify for a mortgage can make clearing those hurdles even harder, especially because home values have risen much faster than household incomes. From 2000 to 2024, median per-capita income grew by around 155%, while median home prices increased by about 207%, according to a recent study from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

The median price of an existing home of any type in February was $398,000, according to NAR. Saving for a down payment and closing costs — amounts paid when you finalize your purchase, such as title insurance or property taxes — can be a heavy lift.

“It’s difficult to save for a down payment while paying rent,” Lautz said.

That’s when the sacrifices come in, Lautz said. Among single women buyers, 41% said they made financial sacrifices to save enough to buy a house, compared with 31% of men. That includes cutting back on things like non-essential goods, entertainment and clothes, canceling vacation plans and taking on a second job, she said.

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Say whaaat?

Credit: Colin Hughes / Airbnb Airbnb is offering 10 free one-night stays at the Hannah Montana Malibu house between April 6–16.Each stay accommodates up to four guests, and the house has four bedrooms and five bathrooms.Booking requests open March 26 at 6 a.m. PST/9 a.m. EST; travel costs are not included.

No, you’re not dreaming: The iconic beach house from Disney Channel’s famous sitcom Hannah Montana will soon be available to book on Airbnb—and 10 fans and the fellow guests of their choosing will get to stay there for free.

The beach house is being opened to fans in honor of the show turning 20, which Montana herself—a.k.a. Miley Stewart, a.k.a. Miley Cyrus—commemorated with a Disney+ and Hulu reunion special.

This Is the Dream

The home itself features many design details that will feel immediately familiar to fans of the popular TV series that made Cyrus a global superstar. The California-chic beach house is located along Malibu’s coastline, and its focal point is an iconic closet featuring a wardrobe of Montana’s stage looks, flashy accessories, and countless pieces, all in the star's signature palette of bright, bold colors.

The four-bedroom, five-bathroom house also offers the ability to take in views of the expansive Pacific Ocean from the balcony, while a short walk just beyond the backyard will take you directly to the Malibu beach itself. In addition, the home also has the perfect spots for fans to perform Montana’s biggest hits karaoke-style, or to snuggle up and rewatch their favorite episodes of the series.

Closet with colorful clothes shoes and accessories in a decorated room The Malibu Spirit

Airbnb is offering stays at the beach house, which has a knack for highlighting stays connected to pop culture favorites. Just last month, the vacation rental site highlighted that the actual cottage from the HBO Max hit romance hockey series Heated Rivalry was available to rent out on the platform.

“From the fashion, to the setting, to the spirit of Malibu, the stay offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to relive the moments that made Hannah Montana unforgettable,” Airbnb said in its announcement of the limited-time vacation rental.

How to Stay There

Fans of the series can request a stay at the beach house starting at 6 a.m. PST/9 a.m. EST on Thursday, March 26, on Airbnb’s website. The company is offering 10 free one-night stays between April 6 and April 16, and the space can host up to four guests per stay. And while Airbnb is footing the bill for the beach house itself, guests are responsible for the cost of traveling to and from Malibu for their visit.

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