“There is just something about that house that makes it stand out from the others,” you’ve thought. That, my friends, is called curb appeal. Perhaps it’s the well-appointed flower beds, the paint colors that complement one another perfectly or the front entrance that is bright and welcoming. Whatever it might be, you want in that house! This is exactly the feeling you want to evoke from potential buyers as they pass your home. The good news? Curb appeal is easy to achieve.

A few years ago, my husband and I replaced the door and side lights to the front entry of our 1920 Dutch Colonial. We had the original door and side lights recreated using the original plans for the house. Our incredibly thick, tall and wide mahogany door is stained in a deep, warm red-toned brown. We added four lights and, now, the door adds such beauty and depth to the architecture of the home that people feel compelled to tell us how much they love the door. We have no plans of moving but the door has created such buzz that we even received a letter from an interested buyer. So whether you replace your front door or just touch up the finishes, it all shows that you love to maintain your home and keep it in great condition—all things someone who is looking to buy a home will appreciate.

For some relatively inexpensive quick fixes, start by appropriately cleaning all of your exterior surfaces, including siding, decking, driveways and fencing. If you opt to use a pressure washer to clean vinyl siding assure that it’s on a low setting as to not knock a hole into it! And, don’t just use water to cleanse the surfaces as it will only push dirt around. Instead, opt for a cleanser like The Flood Company’s Dekswood® Deck Cleaner & Brightener. Dekswood is a detergent-type cleaner that is versatile enough to clean pressure-treated wood, cedar, redwood, decks, siding, fences and even log homes.

Dirty windows are an automatic turn off, so remember to clean both the interior and exterior surfaces (use glass cleaner and newspapers for a streak-free finish). Touch up trim work, siding and fencing, and fill any cracks you find on the sidewalk, driveway and other walkways. Arrange planters at the front entrance of your home and fill them with bright flowers or beautiful greenery to draw visitors inside. Choose planters that complement the style and color scheme of your home—oversized brushed copper or black zinc galvanized metal pots and urns work well with classic and modern homes. Trim the landscaping around the property for a well-groomed appearance, and consider adding low- voltage lighting to showcase architectural features or landscaping. After the project is complete, potential buyers won’t be able to help themselves from going inside with their checkbooks in hand ready to make an offer!