Evaluating your curb appeal..Tips for marketing your home.

Curb appeal is critical because many prospective buyers will only drive by your home. You want every person who stops and looks at the house from the curb to be sufficiently enamored that they want to come in to see more..

Curb appeal is made up of three primary components:

• Front entrance
• Landscaping
• Front of the house

The front door, porch and any surrounding windows and structures from the focal point for your home. A freshly painted door and polished hardware can make it more attractive. Easy to read house numbers, a freshly painted mailbox and functioning porch lights are also important. Potted plants or flowers also make a very warm and cozy entrance.

Landscaping includes lawn, plants and such structures as retaining walls, walkways, and steps. The trees and shrubs need to be well trimmed and garden beds should be well defined and freshly mulched. It's always important to keep in mind that many homes have overgrown shrubs that hide the house and make it look smaller. Also consider powerwashing the concrete surfaces to make them appear new again.

Inspect the rest of your home to see if the siding is clean, is the paint in good shape, are the windows clean and clear of spider webs, and the gutters clean and hung securely.

• Updating your interior

Kitchens and bathrooms are very important rooms in your home and can present problems. The big quesion is wheather renovating a kitchen or bath will ultimately pay for itself. If a kitchen is not updated, but is on par with the other houseson the market, no major changes need to be made. Often a fresh coat of paint, new countertops, and flooring can really bring a kitchen up to speed without a great expense. The same is generally true about bathrooms.

• Reducing clutter

The next major issue to consider when getting your house ready for sale is often the least expensive and the most troublesome: Getting Rid Of Clutter. This is where the advice of an honest outsider is important. If you are unable to take on the clutter problem immediately, the best thing to do is to put things into storage until you're ready to sort through them or move.

• Fixtures & Outlets

To check electrical fixtures, go through each room and try each electrical outlet by plugging in a portable lamp. Test every light switch, replacing bulbs when necessary. Test the faucets in the kitchen and baths. Note any that are leaking or otherwisein need of servicing.

• Remember to use patience

Complete your list of repairs before listing your home. This will make it more desirable to potential buyers and command a higher selling price.