Curb Appeal, A First Impression That Lasts

Most buyers form their FIRST IMPRESSION of your home before they even get out of the car. Curb appeal is the view from the curb that gives potential buyers the first chance to fall in love with your home.

The exterior of your home should be in PRISTINE CONDITION - clean, cleared of clutter, with no visible repairs needed. A broken step, overgrown bush, or abandoned toys in the yard can spoil both the home's appearance and the potential buyer's first impression.

Here's a simple cleanup and spruce up checklist to make sure your home leaves a stellar first impression:

• Clear driveways and walkways of snow, weeds, and debris. Repair or replace cracked steps or pavers. Whenever possible, driveways should be clear of vehicles.

• Keep your lawn mowed, edged, and watered. Prune dead branches and plants. Weed flower beds and replace leggy, thin landscaping with fresh plants and flowers.

• Replace discolored mulch with fresh mulch, or consider changing out to rock.

• Replace loose or damaged roof shingles, clean the gutters, and paint and caulk window trim and doors.

• Make the front door area shine: consider repainting your front door and placing a new welcome mat. Polish the door hardware and make sure all windows are clean, and damaged screens replaced.

• Power wash siding, brick, windows, and porches.

• Replace light fixtures -and if possible, pick new fixtures with the same mounting system to save time and hassle.

• Install new house numbers that match the finish of your light fixtures.

• Consider upgrading your mailbox; it's an inexpensive fix and the first thing that buyers will see when they pull up to your home.

• Install flower-boxes or pots of blooming flowers for a pop of color. In the Fall, mums offer color and are a harvest favorite.

• Hang a seasonal wreath from your front door.