Don't people take a drive around the neighborhood they are thinking about buying in before purchasing? I sure did. Houses reasonably kept up. Various sheds - all in good shape. Trailers, boats, RVs... tucked next to or behind homes. Houses painted various colors - one dark brown, another red, there's a yellow one down the way. The fact that there is no HOA sealed the deal for me, but I knew it was a comfortable fit before I toured the house itself.
I knew I wouldn't be comfortable living in a neighborhood with immaculate yards and no "stuff" visible from the front. So I didn't even consider buying there.