MAKE IT SMILE PRETTY - Do all that is possible to enhance the appearance of the front door, porch, and entry area. Make it say “Welcome” - that’s what one sees first. Use impressive house numbers and an attractive porch light. Wash the walls, - or give them a fresh coat of paint, inside and out.

MAKE IT SHINE BRIGHT - Paint dark walls with off-white colors. Turn on all the lights (be sure all switches and light bulbs work). Open all the drapes during the daytime, but close them at night (unless there is a captivating view of the city night lights). Adark, dingy home fosters fears of dirt and defects. Whereas, lots of light makes a home vibrant and cheery.

PAINT, REPAIR, OR REPLACE all items that need attention, both inside and out; i.e. broken windows, loose rain gutters, missing fence slats, sagging gates, sticky garage doors, messy mail box, tattered house numbers, cheap looking porch light, weather-beaten front door, broken steps, crumbling concrete in walkway or driveway, broken deck rails, rickety workbench in garage, flawed mirrors, loose knobs, sticky door, sagging shelves, chipped sinks or tub, drippy faucets, loose or torn linoleum, holes in the walk, replace and caulk shower tiles, etc.

HAVE HOUSE NUMBER in plain sight and lit at night. Be sure the porch light is lit at night. Be sure the doorbell works, chimes are more welcoming. Replace the old worn out welcome mat. Display a pretty flower pot.

$300 WORTH OF PAINT, plants, pictures, can add $3,000 to the selling price. The home that shows well will sell. There’s no second chance for that first impression. Few want to clean and/or make repairs before moving into their new home.

TELL THE WORLD ABOUT IT - Keep it advertised and exposed “constantly” because the day that a property is not being exposed will be the exact day that Mr. Right Buyer will come to town; and not knowing that it was available, that buyer will buy something else.