You remember the old adage that °you never get a second chance to make a
first impression.± For anyone interested in selling their home, this adage
should be the first thing in their mind as they prepare their property for sale.
With the help of a good realtor, a seller can get objective advice as to what °fix-
it± items need to be addressed on their property before their house is put up for
sale.

Without a doubt, the first place they should start is in their front yard and
surrounding exterior. For many prospective buyers, how you maintain the front
exterior of your home can be the difference between a buyer telling their agent
that they want to take a look at your house or to keep driving on to the next
home for sale. This is what is known in the business as °curb appeal±.

If you have watched HGTV, you might have seen the show where the realtor
walks in to view the house that is being prepared for sale and he or she makes
a disparaging comment about the curbside view of the house the minute they
drive up. Dont let this common mistake happen to you.

If youve lived in your home for several years there is a good chance that there
is something in your yard that needs to be cleaned, trimmed or thrown out.
Very often sellers have grown accustomed to some of the undone projects
around their yard and need to now view these items with a critical eye. From
hedges and trees that can use some additional trimming to leftover home
project materials that might have accumulated in a corner. With a little sweat
equity and relatively little cost, spending time cleaning up the yard can
improve the sale price of your home by up to five thousand dollars and also
immediately improve the chances of your property being shown to several
prospective buyers.

The following is a checklist of items you might need to attend to:

* Too many flower pots or clutter around the front entryway although a
single plant in a decorative pot might enhance the front entryway, a variety of
pots can detract from the entryways appearance. Pare them down to one or
two at the most and get rid of old or broken pots.

* Tires or left over home improvement project materials even home
improvement materials that are stacked neatly can give a cluttered
appearance. Its time to get rid of them or donate them to someone who can
use these materials.

* Firewood If you cant find a place to stack firewood neatly, you should
reconsider having it in your yard at all. Firewood can attract bugs so you might
be better off paring down the amount of firewood you keep.

* Dated playground equipment CIf your aluminum playground equipment is
rusty or if it was previously brightly colored but has since faded due to the
exposure to the elements, now may be the time to dismantle the equipment
and get rid of it.

* Lawn clippings and other natural waste Sometimes leaves and debris
can get stuck in corners of the yard that you might have not otherwise noticed.
Have a trusted friend objectively review your yard and point out what you
might have missed. Also make sure you check debris in your rain gutters.

* Bicycles and other kids toys Try creating storage for bicycles in the
garage on a bicycle rack or other type of storage device. Besides being a
tripping hazard, bicycles are best kept in the garage or storage shed to reduce
visual clutter.

* Bottles, cans & trash Most people maintain their yard adequately;
however, if you have kids they may not always be as diligent in picking up
their soda cans and similar items. Make sure your yard is free of this debris.

* Exterior lights Although most people will view your property in the
daytime, a prospective buyer might drive by in the early evening. Make sure
any exterior lights have had their light bulbs replaced.

* Mow the lawn, Trim the hedgesA neat, lush lawn and trimmed hedges
add to the beauty of your home. If you have not regularly maintained your
lawn, now is the time to pay attention to all these details.

* Pets This is probably the most sensitive area for most homeowners,
since pet owners love their pets and are tolerant of the negative side of pet
ownership. However, just as there are many people who own pets; there are
equally just as many who do not care for them. If you have an outdoor pet,
now is the time you may need to keep him on a leash and keep his water bowl
and dish scrupulously clean.

While the mere mention of these items may seem rude or offensive, a
professional real estate agent will not hesitate to share this checklist with you if
these items apply in your situation. Remember, dont under-estimate the
drawing power of a clean, well maintained lawn and surrounding yard: you
might not get a second chance.

For a wealth of real estate information visit http://www.nefcortez.com