North Texas homes for sale.

Once your home is listed and the for-sale sign is firmly implanted in your front lawn, all is ready for would-be buyers to tour your home. Or is it? It's important to make your home look its best when it comes time to show it. That first impression is everything. Especially in a market where home sales are slower due to inventory saturation. It's highly recommended that you spruce up your home and prove that it's worth every penny you're asking. And it doesn't have to cost you a fortune. In fact, a great first impression is sometimes all it takes to see a speedy offer come your way. There are a lot of simple, fairly inexpensive things you can do to make a good first impression and attract offers as quickly as possible.

Some things you can do to ensure your home's exterior lands favorable first impressions include:

· Stay on top of your lawn mowing and maintenance and tidy up your front landscaping.

· Place a new, colorful welcome mat on the front porch.

· Embellish your front door area with a nice, big potted plant to the side of the front door.

· Apply a fresh coat of paint on your door.

· Remove all the toys, bicycles and scooters from the yard.

· Clean all your windows until they're sparkling.

· Invest in a new doorknob and lock - this will jazz up your door and provide greater security.

· Make sure your street numerals are polished and in place. Or, invest in a nice new set that stands out among your neighbors' standard numerals.

. Repair any loose shingles or roof problems- the last thing a potential buyer wants to worry about is the roof.

· Paint and/or repair your gutters, if needed.

Once the exterior wows your potential buyers, you'll need to continue to make an impact on them when they make their way inside. You can almost think of it as preparing for a formal dinner party. For starters, you can:

· Remove all the clutter - make sure kitchen and bathroom countertops are as clear as possible

. Try to keep toys organized in closets and shelves

. Remove any excess knickknacks and family photos.

· Hang fresh clean towels in the bathrooms.

· Touch up your paint if your walls have a few rough spots. You probably already have the extra paint sitting in your garage.

· Vacuum your floor each morning. You may also want to think about getting your carpets cleaned before potential buyers view your house. If your carpet is in bad shape or not a nuetral beige color, it's best to go ahead and have it replaced.

· Make sure all your faucets are drip-free. Have loose toliets tightened. Replace missing or stained caulk around the tub and shower.

· Replace any nonfunctioning bulbs in your light fixtures and vanities.

· Thoroughly clean all your appliances, including the inside of your oven and microwave.

· Place a beautiful centerpiece in the center of your dining room table.

· Eliminate odors as much as possible - place potpourri in the bathrooms, use air freshener and deodorizer, especially if you have indoor pets or there's a smoker in the house. "Plug-Ins" work great.

· Let the light in - open all your blinds and curtains. If your house's natural light leaves some rooms dark during certain portions of the day, turn on the lights if you know your house may be shown that day. If you have any decorative or track lighting, be sure it is on.

· Clean your fireplace.

· If you have too much furniture, place some of it in storage.

· Add some final touches, a couple of fresh bouquets of flowers and some nice potted plants in decorative containers can do wonders.

Basically, just use common sense. Remember that everyone has his or her own style. You're not trying to impress with your particular brand of décor. Rather, you're trying to present a simple, clean, attractive home that exudes potential - an empty, yet enticing, palette for your home's next owners.