Did you know that it’s a proven fact that a properly maintained home sells substantially higher then a home that is dirty, depressed looking and clearly not maintained very well? When it comes to selling your house the statement “first impressions are the selling impression” couldn’t be any more accurate. This article will highlight some quick tips that will increase the amount of money you can ask for you home when you’re ready to sell it.

These tips won’t consist of insisting that you perform a major renovation or complete overhaul of your home. Instead they will focus on what you can do outside around your house in order to increase your property value. These quick fixes can include things such as cleaning, painting, refinishing, and other such efforts. These are the projects that don’t require all that much capital, and yet they make an immeasurable improvement to the overall look of your home.

Remembering what we said earlier about first impression prompts my first and number 1 tip. Always take the necessary time to tidy up around the outside of your home. This would include all debris, refuse or garbage waste as well as tools, children’s toys and yard care tools such as lawnmowers and weed eaters.

Always keep any bushes or shrubbery around the outside of your home neat, trimmed and well shaped. It creates the illusion of a well maintained home and subconsciously makes the buyer fell better about the house before actually stepping inside.

Planting inexpensive flowers around your home in order to brighten up the outside can have a positive effect on promoting your house. Many of my favorites include petunias, marigolds and zinnias. Flowers are especially attractive under windows, on porches and of course in flower beds.

Another sure winner when it comes to creating a positive buzz about your house is a properly manicured lawn. Make no mistake about landscaping plays a huge role in determining the value of your home. In fact, studies have shown that when the landscaping of a home is in excellent condition, it can sell for about 4 to 5 percent higher, while homes with landscaping in very poor condition can sell for 8 to 10 percent less. That’s a huge difference in the overall selling price of your home.

If you have a porch or any types of railing on the outside of your home then take the necessary steps to make sure that all of the wood used is in good shape. Make sure all wood screws are properly tightened and that nothing is molding or broken. Additionally make sure the railing is secure and not loose so as to pose a safety hazard.

If you have any shutters on your home make sure they are kept clean and serviceable. The reason for this is quite simple. When they’re well maintained and in good shape, they can add a warm, comforting touch to brick, stone, or just about any other finish. However, if they’re not well maintained, and are in bad shape, they are one of the fastest ways to make your home appear to be neglected; especially to prospective buyers.

Make sure to identify any areas around the outside of your home that require touch up paint. The small investment in time and the necessary paint supplies you purchase will significantly increase the appeal of your home and allow you to ask a higher selling price.

Finally perform one more look at the overall condition and cleanliness of your home prior to any prospective buyers coming by with a real estate agent. Inspect to make sure the gutters, windows and siding are all clean. Remember, your goal for the best possible curb appeal is a neat, clean, well maintained atmosphere. All of these items can be easily performed in a few hours, and they’ll make an enormous difference for selling your home.