The first thing prospective home-buyers see is the exterior appearance of your house, known as curb appeal. First impressions invite people to look inside or turn them away. Sprucing up curb appeal does not have to be expensive if you are willing to put in some time and work yourself.

First and most important is a neat appearance which means keeping the yard attractively mowed and trimmed at all times. Pruning shrubs and removing any low hanging tree branches that cover a view of the home makes an immense difference. A final and attractive finishing touch is placing mulch around the base of shrubs and trees.

Another important feature is the cleanliness of the exterior of your house. Power washing can be a huge help as is touch-up painting on trim and shutters as well as mailboxes, house numbers and tired planters. Attractive planters with a few healthy and colorful flowers near the door invite prospective buyers to further explore. Additionally, repairing and updating small things such as exterior lighting or a ripped screen creates the impression of a well-cared for home.

Why not roll up your sleeves for a few hours to dramatically increase the number of prospective buyers?