If left unaddressed, problem areas on a home’s exterior will exercise a subtle effect on the buyer’s mind during a showing, dampening the excitement that your photos and have produced. In addition, problems like the ones listed below may convey an unintended message to the buyer that the homeowner is careless, sloppy, or in need of money (and therefore possibly desperate to sell). Note that the following can be relatively inexpensive to repair and correct.

1. Dirty and/or damaged front doors—Buyers waiting for their agent to unlock the front door at a showing have extra time to notice front doors with peeling paint, corroded or difficult to operate door locks and hardware. Make sure the front door shines. Also make sure it is EASY to unlock, i.e., both deadbolt and doorknob locks should be easy to operate and keyed alike. Homeowners who habitually drive into the garage and enter by an interior garage door may not have noticed front door problems.

2. Dirty and/or damaged doormats–replacements are affordable and quick to put in place. Effective (allowing plenty of surface to wipe your feet and keep dirt out of the house) is important, but so is appearance—don’t go super cheap.

3. Dirty and/or damaged porch floor and porch furniture—Damage to porch floors such as rotten or cracked materials can be repaired more easily and cheaply than sellers imagine. Areas of deterioration on decking can be spot replaced and finished to match; the concrete surface of poured porches can be broken out and replaced. Paint spills left by sloppy painters in the past should be cleaned up before sale. Porch furniture that is dirty or damaged should be cleaned, stored, or discarded rather than kept in place where it can sink your sale. Optimally, attractive seating near the front door suggests positive things to the buyer about the pleasures of interaction with neighbors. However, seating and tables that are less than pristine reduce marketability, and are usually visual clutter that is better removed.

4. Dirty and/or damaged storm doors, trim, skirting, or windows—A storm door which is damaged and has corroded hardware sends a message that the house has not been well-maintained and is not a good value. Trim showing moisture damage also suggests deferred maintenance, and it should always be repaired and painted before a house is put on the market (note: start on what is visible from the front walk).   Trim around the garage door may have rotted where it rests directly on the pavement; trim around the doors and windows should also be inspected for damage, and repaired as soon as possible. Skirting made from trellis panels and window glass are easily damaged by rocks thrown by mowers. Replace broken skirting, broken glass, clean dirty windows and repair or replace damaged screens. Note—never discard window screens, as they are equipment which is part of the window assembly.  If you are not using them, store them in the shed or garage so buyers who like screens have one less item to request at home inspection.

5. Hose left out between uses. This is a common oversight that is embarrassingly simple to correct. A garden hose habitually lying on the ground in front of the house is convenient for you, but creates the impression of carelessness for the buyer. A hose pot or an attractive hose reel should be put into place and used, or the hose should be stored in the garage or garden shed between uses.