Everyone knows the importance of making a good first impression and your home is no exception. Most buyers will take a look at your home online before they step through the front door. But whether they are seeing your home in photos or in person for the first time, how your home looks from the outside can affect how they feel about the rest of the house.

Here are a few simple things you can do to make sure your home looks its best for potential buyers.

• Clean the outside of your home. Clean your gutters and windows and wash dirt away from your driveway, sidewalks, and the exterior of your home. Make sure all of your garden tools and any toys are stored out of sight.
  
  
• Repair any cracks and clean any stains in the driveway.
  
  
• Trim bushes and branches to make sure they aren't blocking windows or architectural details of the home. If there are trees that look unhealthy, call someone out to evaluate them and make sure they aren't likely to fall in a storm. 
  
  
• Plant thoughtfully. Make sure your garden beds look neat and tidy or set up pots of bright flowers or evergreen plants to add some color to your home.
  
  
• Mow your lawn and edge the grass around garden beds, walkways, and trees. Make sure you maintain the lawn while your home is on the market. 
  
  
• Maximize your lighting. Make sure your outdoor lights are working properly and add accent lighting to make your home stand out in the evening.
  
  
• Make your house numbers pop! Polish or replace your house numbers so they are easy to read from the street.
  
  
• Paint your front door and make sure your locks and knobs match.
  
  
• Place a new, clean doormat outside your front door. This will also help keep the inside of your home clean during showings in bad weather.
  
  
• Keep outdoor decorations simple. But consider placing a seasonal wreath on your door. 
  
  
• If your mailbox is old or in disrepair, replacing it can give your home's exterior a fresh boost.
  
  

You don't have to spend a lot of money to increase curb appeal. Investing time can make your home stand out to potential buyers and increase your home's value.

If you have questions about specific things that can improve your home's curb appeal, our agents would be glad to talk to you. Call us at (434) 214-6121 and Rives, Kelly, and John will be glad to speak with you about your home ownership goals and how our team can help.