Several years ago my wife and decided to take a vacation with one of our neighbors.  The neighbors had a nice boat and invited us to visit their favorite lake and stay at the “resort” that they had been going to for many years.  Of course we jumped at the chance of spending a relaxing week of boating, swimming, early morning coffee and late night cocktails on the porch overlooking the lake.  When we arrived at the “resort”, our hearts sank.  The “resort” turned out to be a group of rustic cabins overlooking the lake.  The front door of our cabin barely closed, the screen door was half off the hinges and most of the window screens were dirty or damaged or both.  What a terrible first impression!  Had it not been for our commitment to our friends, we might have turned around and left before we ever checked in. As it turned out, the cabin was rustic but more than adequate for our needs and the resort turned out to be quaint, quiet and relaxing. The vacation was fun and we actually returned there years later for another visit.

So why am I posting this story?  Quite simply it is to remind home sellers that first impressions are so very important when placing a home on the market.  So many home sellers want to invest big money in replacing appliances, carpeting, light fixtures and other items that may not add to their return on investment while ignoring the simple things that make a good impression. 

Putting your home on the market?  Remember that curb appeal is the first step in making a home inviting.  Look at your front door.  Is it clean? Does it seal well? Open and close easily?  Do the lock(s) match?  If not, repair it or replace it.  Paint it or clean it. Fix the weather stripping around it.

How about the walkway to the front door?  Is it clean, free of debris?  Is the concrete cracked and sunken?  Do the steps sag or droop?  Again, clean it up, fix it up, and make it look nice.

Plant or place some flower pots along the walkway or near the door to add color and fragrance to the visitor’s psyche.

All this can be done with a minimal amount of cost and labor.  At least the buyer will walk into the home with a positive mindset and you will have made a good first impression.