If you can't get them into your house, you will never sell it and you won't get a second chance!
What you can do right now to update the exterior of your house:
Empty side yards of everything.
Knock down cobwebs.
Clean out flowerbeds and keep the kid's toys out of sight...keep a toy box on the patio.
Trim your trees and shrubs to let more natural light into your house. (Save some branches to created dramatic arrangements inside.)
Wash down any exterior surfaces if applicable and squeegee exterior windows at this time.
Clean or replace your window screens
Clean your rain gutters and make sure there are no mud puddles under them.
Make sure your doorbell works.
Take down any welcoming plaques that you may have added to your entrance.
Add a flat of pretty seasonal flowers to your garden if the weather permits.
Place potted plants at the front entry.
Paint your front door: The color can be bold and it should stand out.
Replace your address with new numbers and if you have painted curb addresses, have it repainted.
Replace the door knob and locks.
Keep the lawn mowed and edged. Fertilize.
For those of you who need to replace your old lawns, try instant lawn, or rolling in sod.
If you need to paint your house, look at the colors in your neighborhood and then choose a color scheme that blends.
Re-sealing your asphalt driveway makes a huge difference in how your house looks.
If you have concrete, check for cracks and repair them.
Inspect and clean your chimney
Replace windows with double or triple pane glass...good rate of return on this investment.
Blow your yard and driveways, patios and walkways every other day or so to get rid of dead leaves, dirt, papers, etc. The best thing I ever bought for myself was a cordless blower from Home Depot!
Install exterior lighting along walking paths and focal points. Many times people will drive by a listing in the evening after work before they go see it so keep that in mind.
Make sure all your window blinds and draperies are even and presentable from the street and back yard.
Place stepping stones in paths or walkways that lead to water faucets and hoses where there are no paths.
What if...you painted just one wall on your front porch like the one above? What if...you installed a couple of window boxes? Fill them with geraniums.
What if...you added shutters to the sides of your windows? You can get them in plastic. What if...you put a spot light on your address numbers? It shows that you are proud. What if...your home is contemporary? Add cactus and succulants to your garden. What if...you don't have a patio cover? A large canvas works just a well with rope and hooks. What if...you collect wind chimes or fan wheels? Remove them. What if...you added terra cotta tiles to your front porch or back patio?
If you just take a few minutes of your time... Look at your resources around you Buy a bucket of paint and paint an old piece of furniture... It will look as though there were a lifetime of memories made there!
A lot of thought went into this side yard. A cordless blower used in the mornings would avoid the frown you experience when you look at this picture.
