The view from the street and the picture posted on the internet are the first impressions people will have of your home. There may be many homes for sale in your neighborhood or town and you want people to see yours first.

So here are some tips for you to maximize your curb appeal: * Do some homework. Take a walk or drive around your neighborhood. Bring a notebook and or a digital camera. Look at the houses. What catches your eye? Which homes stand out? Write down what you like or snap a picture. Then go home and take a long, hard look at your own house. Try to see it with new eyes. Snap a picture and compare it with the others. Make a list of things you would need to do to get your home to the level of the best homes. Set aside some time and a budget for sprucing up your home's exterior. Either do it yourself or hire some professionals. It will be money well spent. * Fix or replace whatever's broken, outdated or ugly. If you hate something, chances are so will someone else. Do you need to paint? Sometimes all you need is a fresh, new color on the front door or shutters to really make your house stand out. Do you need to rent a power washer? Do you need a new roof or new door? How old is the landscaping? If it's more than 15 yrs old, it's probably overgrown. Boring, overgrown and neglected landscapes do nothing for curb appeal. * Have a major family clean up day. You want your house to sparkle! Wash the windows, polish the doorknobs, sweep the porch, clear the gutters, clean the driveway, mow the lawn, pull the weeds,

* Don't forget lighting. Many people can't check out houses till after dark. Make sure your house stands out at night. Choose an attractive porch light and keep it on. Keep the interior lights on as well. You want your home to be warm and inviting. Try landscape lights, but even better, a spotlight or two aimed at your beautiful landscape or the lovely front door. Good luck and have fun improving your home's curb appeal. If you follow the important tips above, your home will be a hit with the potential buyers. Most importantly, your home will sell quickly and at the highest market value.
About the Author

Bob Lipply is a top Real Estate Broker Associate in the Tampa Bay Florida area. He and his team have been helping families relocate to Florida for many years with great success. Visit his website at http://www.lipplyrealestate.com for many other valuable relocation tips.