Just as the first few moments when you first meet someone can set the tone for your opinion of them, the first glimpse you have of a house can make or break your impression of it. The first thing you see will be the yard and outside of the house which can either make you eager to enter the house or make you dread what you might find inside and a million varying degrees between those two reactions. It is important when you're selling your house to consider its curb appeal in advance of putting it on the market so that a buyer's first impression is a positive one.

There are two main things to consider when staging the outside of your home, one is the outside of the house itself and the second is the yard. Both of these elements need to collectively present an attractive welcome to any prospective buyers. Ideally, you should give yourself time to do any repairs or upkeep before your house goes on the market so that it looks its best before it is shown.

First, take a good hard objective look at the outside of your house. Notice any areas that need repair or cleaning and make a note of them. There are some common areas that will likely require some attention. Make sure that any clutter is cleaned up from the front of your house. Wash your siding with a method appropriate for the type of siding your house has and repaint the trim if necessary. Clean the driveway and apply a sealer if warranted. Wash your deck or patio and re-stain or weather-proof it if it needs some attention. Make sure that the roof is free from moss and your gutters are clean and well-maintained.

Next look at the areas where your yard needs improvements or could use some colour. There may be obvious areas that need some improvements, grass that needs replanting, plants that need removing or trimming back, or just stark areas of lawn. Weed and feed your lawn if it's the right season for it and take a bit of time to properly edge the lawn to give it a sharp, well-maintained look. Give your flowerbeds a thorough weeding, trim back plants or trees that are overgrown. Make sure that your fence is in good repair and appears clean and in good shape. Re-stain or paint it if it needs freshening up.

With the increasing trends to inviting outdoor living spaces, don't overlook the possible appeal of your backyard too. Avoid having too stark of a backyard, there's nothing inviting about a big square of grass with nothing to look at. An arrangement of outdoor furniture on your deck or patio combined with some artfully placed planters of flowers will go a long way towards making prospective buyers feel at home. Give some thought to some inexpensive but suitable plants that could be incorporated to add visual interest into your yard. Other items that can add interest to your outdoor living space are interesting rock placements, concrete ornaments, and interesting bird baths or feeders. To add evening appeal to your backyard living space add solar powered or electric lighting and an outdoor firepit or chimenea to deal with the evening chill.

The more inviting that your home can be to prospective buyers right from the first impression, the easier it will be for you to sell it. Even a small investment into your yard and the outside of your house can make a huge difference to how your house is received by buyers so take the time to make a lasting impression!