We have considered gravel, but are thinking asphalt has better curb appeal.Advice would be much appreciated.

ONLY look where the best schools  are, in the best neighborhoods you can afford.The neighborhood and  house should have instant curb appeal, sit 'at or above' street level, yard for the kids to play in.

The neighborhood is great,  nice curb appeal, park is close by. 

At that level of indulgence tax planning has been kicked to the curb like the remaining members of Destiny's Child.

Call on your neighbors if they aren't complying,, report their trash, their crap cars, their grass.. the overall curb appeal in the neighborhood will improve as well as the class of tenants.. help raise the bar.. and the rents..Photos of what's going on is fair way to approach the inspection department if you felt your being pressured.. but get in shape before you respond..

Keep in mind curb appeal is big, make sure your place looks amazing the second the appraiser steps out of the car.

In twenty minutes they will start hauling all of your stuff to the curb. 

If I own the pharmacy, I have:Rent - a premium, high-rent payer,Credit – tenant has great credit,Building - vertical improvements in the form of the building,Site Improvements - in the form of a parking lot, curbing, storm controls, etc,Zoning – I own real estate zoned for a broad variety of commercial uses, andReal Estate - I have a great piece of underlying ground on the hard corner of a signalized intersection with the highest traffic counts in the area.There is a market for this type of product.

I have one rental in Louisiana and when we got flooded... the rental lease is not in effect anymore as the house is not live able.... it's a pain if u don't have insurance.... if ur renters are good for it.... at least ask them to take out their stuff in the curb... a lot of renters just here just left.... and landlords has to do all the hauling away of their thrash too...On the gentle note.... pls be cautious when talking with renters... pls be kind and understandable that they too lost a lot of their possessions aside from the fact that they might not have a house to rent as housing demand will be very high....

@Ken Otsuka I strongly recommend that for an SFR you attend to everything having to do with curb appeal.