Improve "curb appeal" and make buyers want to see the inside.

Lawn & Yard:

• A well kept lawn implies a well maintained home.  Cut lawn weekly while showing your home. Rake leaves and sweep sidewalk on weekends when house is to be shown.
• Remove dead limbs and debris from shrubs and trees.
• Plant extra flowers for more color or spruce up landscaping with potted flowers.
• Repair fences and touch-up with paint or stain.
• Store lawn equipment, toys and other outdoor items away neatly. Board dog or other large pets with neighbors while showing the house
• Repaint or replace mailbox.

Front Entrance:

• The front entrance of your home is a key part of the "First Impression."  Paint, clean or stain the front door.  Remove old screens if they don't fit or operate properly.
• Make sure entry light and doorbell are in working order.
• Replace missing house numbers and make sure the number is visible from the street in the early evening.
• Put out a nice welcome mat and a potted plant if you have room on steps or entrance way.

Roof, Windows and Siding:

• Experienced home owners often ignore miss-aligned shutters, bent gutters and loose shingles (unless there is a leak).   These things jump out at first-time home buyers as signs to avoid your house.
• Paint and repair gutters. Repair loose shingles and flashing in roof, especially when visible from the ground.
• Paint window sashes, trim and shutters.  Replace cracked window panes, and wash entire window.
• Clean and paint siding as needed.  White or something very close is the best color for aluminum, wood or synthetic siding.

People buy homes that appear spacious, clean and solid.

Spacious:

• Clutter and dark colors turn off most buyers. That means getting rid of everything you can live without.
• If you can't see the baseboard, the room is probably cluttered.
• Have a garage sale to eliminate unnecessary items.  Use the money you earn to put some of your bulkier possessions in storage.
• Bright lights and white walls make rooms look bigger. If you plan to paint, use white or off-white. Replace lights with higher wattage bulbs.
• Clear kitchen countertops as much as possible. Reduce number of items in cabinets.
• Arrange clothing neatly in each closet and reduce number of items stored on shelves and on the floor.
• Clean and organize your basement, attic and garage.

Clean:

• Clean everything  - carpets included. Ask a friend to assess your efforts, especially sensitive areas like odors.
• Wash windows and mirrors.
• Clean the oven and all appliances. Clean all grease spatters and polish chrome fixtures and surfaces.
• Clean window treatments and carpets. Replace worn, stained and odorous carpeting.
• Clean smudges, especially around doorknobs and light switches.

Solid:

• Rattles, squeaks and leaks leave the impression that house needs a lot of work. Eliminate them.
• Repair squeaking  steps and  wobbly banisters.
• Repair leaking roof and remove all signs of water damage:
      - Paint over water stains
      - Replace discolored wallpaper
• Repair leaky faucets and pipes.
• Repair or clean caulking around tubs and sinks.
• Tighten loose doorknobs, light switch plates and cabinet hinges.
• Repair sticking doors and windows.
• Tack down all loose molding.