When it becomes time to sell your home you want to try and get the highest possible selling price. And one of the very first things you should pay attention to and address is your home's curb appeal. It is the first impression a potential buyer will get about your property that will influence their determination as to what they think your home is worth.

Although you may think that if someone does not like something about your home they can just change it themselves, most people have a hard time imagining what certain changes will do to the overall look of a house. So why relinquish that control? Here are the 5 best ways to increase your curb appeal.

1. Mow and edge the lawn, remove weeds from lawn and driveway cracks, and rake the leaves. This will create an overall sense of tidiness and shows pride in ownership. If it looks like you don't care about the general upkeep of the outside of your home buyers may start to worry about the inside.

2. Trim trees, shrubs and bushes. Overgrown trees and bushes can partially or completely hide a house from the street. If you have gone to the effort of making the exterior if your home look like a million dollars and potential buyers can hardly see it then you have just wasted your money. Trimming trees and shrubs can also make your home look bigger instead of looking lost in a jungle of leaves and twigs.

3. Plant flowers. Planting flowers around the house or using planters will not only add colour and help to brighten up the exterior, but it will also create a feeling of warmth and welcoming. If you are selling your home in the middle of winter, try to find photos of the outside of your house in the summer time. This shows buyers what your home can look like when everything is in full bloom.

4. Paint faded siding and repair exterior brick. If your home has aluminum siding that looks dull or faded, you may not need to replace it. There are products available at your local home improvement store that are specially designed for painting aluminum or vinyl siding. Brick exterior homes can be repointed and minor cracks in concrete can be patched.

5. Add lighting along paths, driveways and porches. Many showings for homes happen in the evenings after sunset so make sure your home looks good even in the dark. Solar powered lighting can easily be installed along driveways and paths and in your front and backyards.

Putting a little effort into the exterior of your house will have a huge effect on not only the buyers first impressions of your property but also help to increase the price your home will end up selling for. Remember not to rely on buyers to imagine all the changes they could make after the purchase. Take control of the buying experience and present your home in the best condition possible and you will see a return in the most important place. Your wallet.

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