The yard is always overgrown and I cut her front lawn more often than she does as it makes my house look bad. 

It is amazing all but the super nonexistent yard.  

So much emphasis is put on having a pipeline full of leads in different phases because things will go wrong, get delayed and go south and in some instances your ability to salvage the situation depends on your perspective.

Are all the yards well manicured?

And I've a beautiful wife and beautiful children and a yard to mow and a dog to play catch with and things that *I* want to do with *my* life and my family.  

Paying attention to the little things like a tidy yard and street appeal may also help.

With the fencing/yard I don't see that being a huge factor.

This other duplex (which is the mirror image of mine) has trash all over their yard, the roof needs to be replaced and just generally looks very dumpy.

Lots a people want to have that yard to use.  

Are there trees in the yard that need to be taken down.