First impression is key to selling your home - By Dan McGowan

As anyone in the real estate industry will tell you, it's important to make your home look its best when it comes time to show it. That first impression is everything. Curb appeal is important because it sets the tone for what the buyer is going to see inside.
 

There are a lot of simple, fairly inexpensive things you can do to make a good first impression and attract offers as quickly as possible.

Some things you can do to ensure your home's exterior lands favorable first impressions include:

• Stay on top of your lawn mowing and maintenance and tidy up your front landscaping.
• Plop a new, colorful welcome mat in front of the door.
• Embellish your door area with a nice, big potted plant to the side of the front door.
• Slap a fresh coat of paint on your door.
• Move all the toys, bicycles, and scooters away from the front of the house.
• If you have pets, make sure there are no droppings or mine fields in the yard. The last thing you want is a potential buyer stepping in one of those.
• Clean all your windows until they're sparkling.
• Remove all clutter around the house. Take a load to the dump if you have to.
• Place a seasonal wreath or arrangement on your door.
• Repair any loose shingles—the last thing a potential buyer wants to worry about is the roof.

Once the exterior wows your potential buyers, you'll need to continue to make an impact on them when they make their way inside. You can almost think of it as preparing for a formal dinner party. For starters, you can:

• Remove all the clutter - make sure kitchen and bathroom countertops are as clear as possible, try to keep toys organized in closets and shelves, temporarily remove any excess knickknacks or family photos if you tend to have a lot.
• Hang fresh clean towels in the bathrooms.
• Touch up your paint if your walls have a few rough spots. You probably already have the extra paint sitting in your garage.
• Vacuum your floor each morning. You may also want to think about getting your carpets clean before potential buyers view your house.
• Make sure all your faucets are drip-free.
• Replace any nonfunctioning bulbs in your light fixtures and vanities.
• Thoroughly clean all your appliances, including the inside of your oven and microwave.
• Place a beautiful centerpiece in the center of your dining room table.
• Eliminate odors as much as possible—place potpourri in the bathrooms, use air freshener and deodorizer, especially if you have indoor pets or there's a smoker in the house.
• Let the light in—open all your blinds and curtains. If your house's natural light leaves some rooms dark during certain portions of the day, turn on the lights if you know your house may be shown that day. If you have any decorative or track lighting, be sure it is on.
• If you have too much furniture, place some of it in storage. You want the house to look roomier.

Basically, just use common sense. Get out on your curb and look at your home through their eyes.  Stand back and try to imagine that it’s you looking at your property and make adjustments to make your home inviting.