The Exterior

First impressions are important, and the exterior of your house can subtly affect a buyer before he or she ever walks through the front door. By following these simple tips, you can create that good feeling the very moment someone pulls in the driveway.

A front door says volumes about a house; if the door is worn-looking with cracked paint, the buyer will instantly begin to question the condition of the rest of the house. By putting on a fresh coat of paint and installing good locks, you can give new life to the front door.

An attractive, well-kept yard is a big selling point to many buyers. You can help by keeping your lawn well-manicured in the spring and summer. Add some color by planting flowers in the beds and along the walk. But yard care doesn't end in August; during the fall and winter, rake and bag leaves and keep the walks and driveway free of snow. A yard overgrown with weeds and old leaves will draw attention away from an otherwise attractive house.

If you keep a dog in the backyard, make sure to "poop scoop" the lawn and pick up any dog toys.

Once the buyer walks inside, making a good impression becomes even more important. There are many ways to show off your house to its best potential.

A fresh coat of paint is one of the easiest things you can do to add freshness and life to a room. The most important rule regarding paint color is "keep it neutral." Your favorite choice for the bedroom may be avocado green, but it could rub buyers the wrong way. Remember -you're making improvements with the BUYER in mind, not you. Keep colors simple and go with whites and beiges. When choosing a wallpaper print, be conservative.

Buyers want a bathroom to look and smell new. Try putting fresh caulking around the tubs, and make sure all sinks, toilets and vanities are clean. Don't leave personal items like toothpaste and hairbrushes in view.

Kitchens are an important place - you cook in them, eat meals in them, collect in them at parties, even balance the checkbook and watch TV in them. The buyer will look closely at yours to see if this room is worth spending time in. Your kitchen should be clean and orderly. with the appliances sparkling like new (even if they're not new). You can also install new cabinet knobs for an inexpensive facelift.

If anything is in need of repair, do it now. Don't wait to fix a leaky faucet or noisy toilet thinking the buyer might not notice. They usually will, and may decide to find another house that doesn't need so much work. If the leaky faucet just requires a 39-cent washer, it's much better to put in the effort now than to risk the sale of your house.

Buyers who walk through a house may not consciously notice every detail that appeals to them, but their subconscious remembers. A homeowner who pays attention to these "little things". can often sway a buyer.

The first thing to remember is that good smells sell. Having the pleasant odor of baked goods and mulling spices imparts a homey feeling. Freshly cut flowers in vases also add a smell of freshness. When cleaning the house, use lemon oils, waxes and polishes. Experts say lemon is an almost universally accepted smell of cleanliness.

Have fresh towels hanging in the bathrooms. It's the same thing you would do if your parent were visiting. Treat every potential buyer just like company.

Light is a precious commodity when selling a house. A room that seems airy and bright will be much more inviting than a room full of shadows. To capture as much light as possible, wash the windows inside and out to let sunlight in. The lighter a room is, the bigger it appears.

Closets should be clean and orderly A neat closet looks bigger than one that is jammed with Christmas decorations and bowling balls.

Your Realtor® will try to make tours convenient, but it's usually best for you to not be in the house when a potential buyer is looking at your home. Having the owner in the house can make a buyer self-conscious about poking around in corners and under cabinets.